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User Manual

Contact Information
United States

United Kingdom

Renaissance Learning
PO Box 8036
Wisconsin Rapids, WI 54495-8036

Technical questions or problems:


Tel: +44(0)20 7184 4000
Email: neosupport@renlearn.co.uk

Technical questions or problems:


Telephone: (800) 338-4204
Email: support@renlearn.com
Website: www.renlearn.com/support

Latest support information:


Website: www.renlearn.co.uk/renaissance-zone

Purchase NEO products, general information,


or sales questions:
Online store: www.renlearn.com/store/
Phone: (800) 338-4204
Email: answers@renlearn.com

Purchase NEO products:


Website: www.renlearn.co.uk/schools
(This Web site also provides a list of resellers
and contacts for NEO products.)

Asia/Pacific, Canada, and Latin America


Europe, Middle East, and Africa
Technical questions or problems:
Phone: +44 (0)20 7184 4000
Email: neosupport@renlearn.co.uk
Latest support information:
Website: www.renlearn.eu
Purchase NEO products:
Website: www.renlearn.com/neointernational

Technical questions or problems:


Contact your local reseller. If you do not have a
local reseller, email Technical Support at
support@renlearn.com.
Latest support information:
Website: www.renlearn.com/neointernational
Select your country or region.
Purchase NEO products:
Website: www.renlearn.com/neointernational

Copyright Notice
Copyright 2013 by Renaissance Learning, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
This publication is protected by US and international copyright laws. It is unlawful to duplicate or reproduce any
copyrighted material without authorization from the copyright holder. This document may be reproduced only by staff
members in schools that have purchased a NEO or SmartOption Mobile Lab. For more information, contact
Renaissance Learning, Inc., at the address above.
2Know!, Accelerated Math, Accelerated Reader, AccelTest, AlphaQuiz, AlphaWord, Beamer, KeyWords, MathFacts in a
Flash, NEO, NEO 2, NEO Manager, NEO Share, NEO Text2Speech, Renaissance, Renaissance Home Connect,
Renaissance Learning, the Renaissance Learning logo, Renaissance Place, Renaissance Receiver, Renaissance
Responder, SmartOption, and Write On! are trademarks of Renaissance Learning, Inc., and its subsidiaries,
registered, common law, or pending registration in the United States and other countries.
Macintosh is a registered trademark of Apple Inc., registered in the US and other countries.
Windows, Excel and Vista are registered trademarks of Microsoft Corporation in the United States and other countries.
Google Docs is a trademark of Google Inc.

5/2013 NEO
NEOMAN-0513

C ONTENTS
Getting Started . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
Types of Tips in This Manual . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
System Requirements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
Getting to Know Your NEO. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
Removing the Battery Tab (AA Batteries) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
Installing and Charging a Rechargeable Battery Pack. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
Starting the NEO . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
Starting to Write on Your NEO . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
SmartApplets Included on Your NEO . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
Connecting a NEO to Your Computer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
Sending Files from One NEO to Your Computer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
Printing Files from Your NEO . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
Printing from NEO Using a USB Cable Connection. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
How to Send Text to a Printer Using IR Beaming . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
How to Print Wirelessly Using NEO 2s RF Capability . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11

Getting Started with the NEO Manager Software . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12


About the NEO Manager Software . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Installing the NEO Manager Software . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
On Windows Computers. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
On Macintosh Computers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Starting the NEO Manager Software . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
On Windows Computers. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
On Macintosh Computers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Registering the Software . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
About the Tabs in NEO Manager . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Monitoring the Connected NEOs in NEO Manager . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

12
12
12
13
14
14
14
14
15
16

Setting Up the Renaissance Receiver and Using NEO 2s Wireless


Capabilities. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
Connecting the Renaissance Receiver to Your Computer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
Naming the Renaissance Receiver (Wireless Network) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19
Setting the Renaissance Place Address . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20

Installing and Using NEO Share . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21

NEO 2
User Manual

.....

C ONTEN TS

Using Al phaWo rd Plus to Write on NEO . . . . . . . . . . . 22


Starting AlphaWord Plus . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22
Typing and Editing Text . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22
Moving the Cursor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23
Selecting Text. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23
Cutting, Copying, Pasting, and Deleting Text . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24

About the NEO Clipboard. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24


How to See What Is In the Clipboard. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24
How to See the Space Used and Available in the Clipboard . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24

Creating New Files. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25


Naming and Saving Files . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25
Finding and Opening Files . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26
Formatting Text. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27
Changing Font Size . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27
Available Font Sizes. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27
Changing the Font Size on the NEO . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28

Finding Text . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29
Searching for Text in One File or All Files . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Finding and Replacing Text in One File . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Finding Sections in a File. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
An Example of How to Search for Sections in a File . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

29
30
31
32

Checking Spelling . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33
How to Check Spelling in a File . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Turning Off Spell Check . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Adding Words to the User Dictionary. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Sending a New User Dictionary to NEOs Using NEO Manager . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

33
34
34
35

Using the Thesaurus or the Spanish-English Word Lookup . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36


Using the Thesaurus . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36
Replacing the Thesaurus with the Spanish-English Word Lookup . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37
Using the Spanish-English Word Lookup . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39

Using Linked Files . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40


Sending a Linked File to NEOs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Viewing Linked Files on NEOs. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Tips for Using Linked Files. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Sample Linked Files. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

41
43
43
44

Character, Word, Paragraph, and Page Counts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45

ii

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User Manual

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File Size Limits . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46


About the File Size Limits . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46
Checking the Size and the Number of Pages Available for One File . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46
Checking the Number of Pages Written in Files 18 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47

Clearing and Deleting Files . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47


Clearing a File . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Clearing All Open Files (File 1File 8) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Deleting Files . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Deleting the Open File . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Deleting a File from a List of Files . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Deleting All Files . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

48
48
49
49
49
49

Recovering Files . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50
Using the Typing Timer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50
Using NEO Manager to View, Print, and Save Files . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 51
Retrieving Files from Connected NEOs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Viewing the Files . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Printing Files . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Saving Files . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Where Files Are Saved. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
How to Save the Files . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

51
53
54
56
57
59

Sending (Beaming) Files to Other NEOs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 60


Sending Files to Supported Web-Based Programs Using NEO 2 . . . . . . . . . . . 61
Sending Files from NEO 2 to Supported Programs. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 61
Retrieving Files from Supported Programs and Copying Them to NEO 2. . . . . . . . . 62

Using NEO Manager to Send Files, Rubrics, or Lessons to NEO Files . . . . . . . 63


Creating and Sending Files to NEOs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 63
Sending Rubrics or Other Linked Files to NEOs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 65
Sending Write On! Lessons to NEOs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 68

About File Passwords. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 71


Enabling Password Protection While Working in a File . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 71
Changing a Files Password While Working in the File . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 72
Resetting File Passwords. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 72

Using a NEO Text2Speech Device to Read AlphaWord Plus Files Aloud . . . . . 73

Sm artApplets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 74
What Are SmartApplets? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 74
Installed SmartApplets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 74
NEO 2
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C ONTEN TS

Managing the SmartApplets on Your NEO. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 75


Changing the Startup SmartApplet . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 75
Changing the Startup SmartApplet on the NEO Itself . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 75
Changing the Startup SmartApplet for One or More NEOs Using NEO
Manager. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 76

Disabling and Re-Enabling SmartApplets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 77


Disabling or Re-Enabling a SmartApplet on a Single NEO . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 77
Disabling or Re-Enabling SmartApplets for One or More NEOs Using
NEO Manager . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 77

Installing or Updating SmartApplets on NEOs Using NEO Manager . . . . . . . . . 78


Choosing SmartApplet Settings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 80
Deleting SmartApplets from NEOs Using NEO Manager . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 80
Viewing SmartApplet Information in NEO Manager . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 82
Adding SmartApplets to the List in NEO Manager. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 83
Installing SmartApplets on Your Computer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 83
Adding SmartApplets That Have Already Been Installed. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 83

Respond er SmartApplet for NEO 2 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 84


Preparing to Use NEO 2 with AccelTest, Accelerated Math RP, or the
2Know! Toolbar . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 84
Using NEO 2 to Complete AccelTest Assignments . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 84
Using NEO 2 in a Student-Paced Session in AccelTest . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Teacher Preparation Steps . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Steps Students Follow during a Student-Paced Session . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Using NEO 2 in a Teacher-Paced Session in AccelTest . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Teacher Preparation Steps . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Steps Students Follow during a Teacher-Paced Session . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

85
85
85
87
87
87

Using NEO 2 to Complete Accelerated Math Assignments . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 88


Preparing to Use NEO 2 with Accelerated Math RP . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Using NEO 2 with Accelerated Math RP . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Teacher Preparation Steps . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Steps Students Follow to Complete Printed Accelerated Math Assignments. . .

88
89
89
89

Using NEO 2 with the 2Know! Toolbar . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 91


How Participants Respond to 2Know! Toolbar Questions Using NEO 2 . . . . . . . . . . 91
How Teachers Can Use NEO 2 to Control the 2Know! Toolbar Program . . . . . . . . . 92

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A c c e l e r a t e d R e a d e r S m a r t A p p l e t o n N E O 2 . . . . . . . . 93
Preparing to Use NEO 2 with Accelerated Reader RP . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 93
How Students Take Quizzes in the Accelerated Reader SmartApplet on
NEO 2 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 94
Things to Check Before Students Start Quizzing on NEO 2 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 94
Steps for Taking a Quiz on NEO 2 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 94

M a t h F a c t s i n a F l a s h R P S m a r t A p p l e t o n N E O 2 . . . . . 100
Preparing to Use NEO 2 with MathFacts in a Flash RP. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 100
How Students Do MathFacts in a Flash RP School Work on NEO 2 . . . . . . . . 101
Things to Check Before Students Start Using the MathFacts in a Flash
RP SmartApplet on NEO 2 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
How Students Use the MathFacts in a Flash RP SmartApplet . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Logging In and Choosing What to Work On . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Working at the Current Level . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Working at a Previously Mastered Level. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Answering Questions During a Practice or Test . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
After a Practice or Test . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Logging Out of the SmartApplet . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

101
101
101
102
102
103
104
104

MathFacts in a Flash (offline) Sm artApplet . . . . . . . . 105


Differences Between the MathFacts in a Flash (offline) SmartApplet and
the MathFacts in a Flash RP SmartApplet on NEO 2 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 105
Opening the SmartApplet. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 106
Practicing MathFacts in a Flash Levels . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 106
Taking Tests . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 107
Viewing the History . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 109
Viewing the History for One Level . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 109
Viewing the History for All Practices and Tests . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 110

Printing the History. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 110


Sending the History to Renaissance Place . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 111
Clearing the History . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 113

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K e y W o r d s W i r e l e s s S m a r t A p p l e t . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 114
Welcome to KeyWords . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 114
How the KeyWords Wireless SmartApplet Works . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 115
Starting the KeyWords Wireless SmartApplet . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 115
Adding Students to NEO 2s Using NEO Manager . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 116
Importing Students from Renaissance Place into NEO Manager . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 116
Manually Adding Students in NEO Manager . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 119
Adding Students to NEO 2s from NEO Manager. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 120

Adding a Student on a NEO 2 in Offline Mode. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 121


Choosing Your Name, Starting Lessons, and Taking the Pre-Test. . . . . . . . . . 122
Learning New Keys . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 124
Building Accuracy and Speed . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 125
Accuracy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 125
Speed Builder . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 126

Taking an Accuracy and Speed Test . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 127


Completing the Post-Test . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 128
How Students Check Progress Using Reports . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 128
How Students Send Their Data to the Teacher (to NEO Manager) Using
NEO 2 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 131
Teacher Options . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 132
Deleting Students. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 133
Creating a Group Progress Report . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 133
Sending All KeyWords Student Data from NEO 2 to NEO Manager . . . . . . . . 135
Requiring Students to Complete KeyWords Lessons in Order . . . . . . . . . . . . 136
Setting a Pre-Test and Post-Test Level for KeyWords Students . . . . . . . . . . . . 136
Setting KeyWords Wireless to Offline Mode on NEO 2 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 137
Setting Speed and Accuracy Goals for KeyWords Students . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 138
Teacher-Set Goals Versus the Default Automatic Goals . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 138
How to Set Goals Manually in the Teacher Options. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 139
Resetting Goals to the Default . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 140

Choosing Whether to Enforce Use of the Correct


Shift Key . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 141
Enforcing Use of the Home Row . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 142
Requiring One or Two Spaces between Sentences. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 142

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Using NEO Manager with KeyWords . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 143


Setting KeyWords Wireless Options in NEO Manager . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Retrieving KeyWords Data and Generating Reports in NEO Manager . . . . . . . . . .
Deleting KeyWords Students from NEO Manager . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Resetting KeyWords Students Using NEO Manager . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

143
146
148
149

About KeyWords Reports. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 150


Creating a Master Class Report . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 151

Using KeyWords RP to View and Print Reports. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 152


Synching KeyWords Data with KeyWords RP . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 152

KeyWords Resources for Teachers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 156


Materials for Handouts and Transparencies . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
NEO Manager Start Menu or Program Folder . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
NEO Manager CD or Downloaded Files. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Documentation CD for NEO 2 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
KeyWords RP Resources Page . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Resource Locations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Resource Descriptions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Keyboarding Ergonomics . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Sample Lesson Plan for Getting Started . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Preparation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Teaching the Lesson. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

156
156
156
156
156
157
158
159
160
160
161

Lessons in KeyWords. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 162


Frequently Asked Questions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 166
Why cant I use the backspace key when using KeyWords?. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Why is there so much repetition of words in the practice passages? . . . . . . . . . . .
Why are the passages so easy? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Why is the sequence of key introduction so different from what I am used to in
other typing programs? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Why do the students learn the ASKL keys first? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
What is the rationale for how the practice passages are sequenced? . . . . . . . . . .
Why arent my test scores updated when I retake an accuracy and speed
builder test in KeyWords? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

166
166
166
166
166
167
167

P a s s w o r d s o n N E O s a n d i n N E O M a n a g e r . . . . . . . . . 168
The Master Password . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 168
File Passwords . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 169
Send List Passwords . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 169

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Changi ng Settings for NEO and SmartApplets . . . . . . 170


Checking System Status on a NEO . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 170
Changing Settings Using the NEO Control Panel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 171
How to Change Settings Using the Control Panel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
About the Settings in the Control Panel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Spell Check Settings. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
AlphaWord Plus Settings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Change Default AlphaWord Font . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Turn Calculator Off . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Two-Button On Option . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Set Screen Contrast . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Keyboard Command Reference List. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
View Keyboard Layout . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Display Battery Status . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Change Keyboard Settings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Search for Networks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
About NEO 2 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Wireless Security . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Update Text2Speech Device. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

171
172
172
173
174
174
174
175
175
175
175
176
178
178
178
178

Other Settings You Can Change on the NEO . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 179


Changing the Auto Repeat Setting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Changing the Transfer Speed for Sending or Beaming Files . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
USB or Cable Connection Transfer Speed . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Beaming (IrDA) Transfer Speed . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Changing the NEO Idle Time . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

179
179
179
180
180

Using the NEO Manager Software to Change Settings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 181


Changing System Settings Using NEO Manager . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
About the System Settings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Changing SmartApplet Settings. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
About the SmartApplet Settings Available in NEO Manager . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
AlphaWord Plus Settings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Spell Check Settings. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Beamer Settings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
KeyWords Wireless Settings. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Disable This SmartApplet Setting. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Restoring Default Settings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
How to Restore the Default SmartApplet and System Settings . . . . . . . . . . . .
Table of Default Settings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

viii

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185
185
186
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187
187
188
188
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Using NEO Manager to Manage NEOs . . . . . . . . . . . . 192


Using Send Lists . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 192
Whats a Send List? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Saving Send Lists . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Opening a Saved Send List . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Closing a Saved Send List That Is Open . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Requiring a Password for Changes Sent to NEOs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Clearing (Removing) a Send List Password . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

192
193
193
194
194
194

Setting Preferences for the NEO Manager Software . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 195


Resetting All Connected NEOs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 196
Updating Your NEO Operating System or SmartApplets Using NEO
Manager . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 197
How to Update NEOs without Preserving Work. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 197
How to Update NEOs While Preserving AlphaWord Plus Files and
KeyWords Data . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 198

Getting Information about Your NEO(s) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 199


Getting Information About the AlphaHub in Your SmartOption Mobile Lab . . . 199

Beaming Files to and from NEOs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 200


Beaming Files Between NEOs in AlphaWord Plus . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 200
Beamer and the NEO Clipboard . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 200
Cancelling a Beam . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 200
Changing Beamer Settings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 201
Troubleshooting Beaming. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 202
I want to change a setting, but I dont know the master password. . . . . . . . . . . . . .
I dont see the Send option on my Beamer screen. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
My NEO says it cant find a receiving device. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
I received an error when I tried to beam or receive a file. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
I have data on the clipboard that I dont want to lose. What should I do? . . . . . . . .
I keep getting an invalid password message. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
I beamed a file with a password, but now that file doesnt have a password on
the receiving device. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
What does the message could not find a sending device mean? . . . . . . . . . . . . .
What do I do if the file Im receiving is too big? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
My friend beamed an AlphaWord Plus file to me, but Beamer didnt let me
choose a file to put it in. It automatically put it in a new file. What happened? . . . .

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202
202
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203
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204

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Using the NEO Calculator . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 205


How to Use Calculator . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 205
Pasting Calculations into AlphaWord Plus (Paper Tape) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 206
Turning Off the NEO Calculator . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 207
To Turn Off Calculator while Using AlphaWord Plus . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 207
To Turn Off Calculator from the SmartApplets Menu . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 207

Troub leshooting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 208


NEO Troubleshooting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 208
Nothing appears on the NEO screen when I turn it on. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
When I turn on my NEO, I see something other than the file that I expected. . . . . .
When I connect my NEO to my computer, I cant send any data, and my NEO
screen shows a file instead of the Attached to message. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
When I send a file to my computer, some of the characters dont show up, or
some letters or words are missing. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
I try to type in a file, but no characters appear. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
My file (or the end of my file) is filled with garbage characters. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
When I transfer text to my Windows computer, the case of the characters is
reversed; all the lowercase characters show up as uppercase, and the uppercase
characters show up as lowercase.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
When I press a key, the wrong letter appears on the screen. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
My LCD screen broke. Is it covered under warranty? What should I do? . . . . . . . .
Do I need antivirus software for my NEO? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
What should I do if I spill something on my NEO?. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
When I try to send NEO 2 files to supported programs such as Google Docs, I
see a message that says Wireless File Transfer is not installed or disabled. . . . . .
My Renaissance Place address cant be verified in the Renaissance Wireless
Server Utilitys Server Settings. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
My NEO is showing an error message. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
The light on my Renaissance Receiver is amber, and my NEO 2s cant connect. .
When I use the Responder, Accelerated Reader, KeyWords Wireless, MathFacts
in a Flash RP, or MathFacts in a Flash (offline) SmartApplets on NEO 2, I
dont seem to be connected to the right Receiver. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

208
208
209
209
209
210

210
210
210
210
211
211
211
211
212

212

NEO Manager Software Troubleshooting. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 213


When I click the plus sign (or arrow) to check connections, NEO Manager
doesnt show that any devices are currently connected. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 213
I have a NEO connected to a port on the AlphaHub, but when I check the
connections, the indicator is black instead of green. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 213

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I cant remember the password that I set, and now I cant use NEO Manager to
configure my NEOs.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
I have a SmartApplet installed on my computer, but I cant install it on the
NEOs. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Im managing a group of NEOs in a SmartOption Mobile Lab with an AlphaHub,
and I want to change a setting on one of the SmartApplets, but I dont see the
SmartApplet in the settings list in NEO Manager. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
When I try to drag and drop text from my Windows computer, NEO Manager
doesnt accept it. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

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C ON TEN TS

214
214

214
214

Reinstalling or Repairing Keys on the NEO Keyboard . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 215


Reinstalling the Key Cap Only . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 215
Reinstalling the Scissors Assembly . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 217
Reinstalling the Spacebar . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 218

About NEO Batteries and Power Sources . . . . . . . . . . 221


How Your NEO Receives Power . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 221
NEO Turns on Automatically When Connected . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 221
Replacing AA Batteries . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 222
Using the Optional Rechargeable Battery Pack . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 223
Specifications for the AC Adapter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
About the Optional Rechargeable Batteries. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Conditioning the Batteries . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Storing and Recharging NEOs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Lifetime of the Rechargeable Batteries. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Toxic Elements Statement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

223
224
224
225
225
226

Low Battery Message. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 226


Checking Battery Status (Charge) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 226
Tips on Caring for Batteries . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 227
NEOs Backup Lithium Battery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 227

Warranty and Maintenance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 228


Warranty. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 228
Guarantee . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 228
Maintenance Tips. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 228
Storing Your NEO. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 229

Return Procedures . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 230


NEO 2
User Manual

xi

.....

C ONTEN TS

FCC Statement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 231


FCC Caution . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 231

More Product Safety Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 231

K e y b o a r d C o m m a n d s a n d S p e c i a l C h a r a c t e r s . . . . . . 232
Keyboard Commands. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 232
International and Special Characters . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 236
Troubleshooting Special Characters . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 239

W r i t e O n ! L e s s o n s f o r N E O . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 240
Using Write On! Lessons with NEO 2s in NEO Share . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 240
How to Use Write On! Lessons in NEO Manager for All NEOs . . . . . . . . . . . . 240
Retrieving Writing Exercises from NEOs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 241
Using NEO Manager to Retrieve Students Exercises . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 241
Sending an Exercise Directly from NEO to Your Computer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 241
Printing Exercises Directly from NEOs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 242

Road Map of Write On! Lesson Files . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 242


Write On! Lesson Categories and Teaching Supplements. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 250
Elementary School Exercises . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 251
Middle School Exercises . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 253
High School Exercises . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 256

Index . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 259

xii

NEO 2
User Manual

G ETTING S TARTED
Welcome to NEO, the perfect writing tool. With NEO, you can comfortably
write, edit, and store text quickly and conveniently, no matter what your
location. NEOs light weight and long battery life make it an easy choice to
use at school, the library, in meetings, or out in the field. NEO integrates with
your computer and prints directly to your printer, either wirelessly or with a
cable connection.
You can also use NEO 2 as you would use a Renaissance Responder with a
Renaissance Receiver, allowing you to get real-time input from students in
your class. You can also use NEO 2s radio frequency capability to print
wirelessly.
NEO 2 comes with NEO Manager software, the companion program that runs
on your computer (Windows or Macintosh) and lets you manage and
configure your NEOs.
This manual explains the many ways in which you can use your NEO. You
can also find web seminars and on-demand sessions in the Renaissance
Training Center; go to www.renlearn.com/training/, hover the mouse pointer
over Learn by Product, and choose NEO 2.

Types of Tips in This Manual


In this manual, youll see two types of tips in the left margin. The icon in the tip
shows you which type it is:
Tips with a light bulb are software tips. They provide helpful information
such as reminders or alternate ways to do a task.
Tips with an apple are teacher tips. They provide ideas for using your
NEOs in the classroom.

System Requirements
For the latest system requirements for computers used with NEO and NEO
Manager, go to www.renlearn.com/requirements.

NEO 2
User Manual

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GETTING S TARTED
Getting to Know Your NEO

Getting to Know Your NEO

C
A
D

A The NEO screen.


B The keyboard. The top row includes keys that
are unique to NEO, including on/off, the eight
file keys, print, spell check, find, clear file, home,
end, applets, and send.

C The green light is on when your NEO is


connected to a computer, to a SmartOption
Mobile Lab, or to an AC adapter. If your NEO
has a rechargeable battery pack, a green light
means the batteries are charged; amber means
they are being charged.

D The battery compartment cover.


E The connection point for the AC adapter cord
(for NEOs with the rechargeable battery pack).

F The IR port for infrared beaming between NEOs


or between a NEO and a computer.

G The port for connecting NEO to a computer


using a standard USB cable.

H A USB port for connecting NEO directly to a


printer.

NEO 2
User Manual

.....

GETTING STARTED
Removing the Battery Tab (AA Batteries)

Removing the Batter y Tab (AA Batteries)


If your NEOs came with standard AA batteries, the batteries are installed
when you receive the NEOs, but before you begin using the NEOs, you need
to remove the battery tab. This tab keeps the batteries from powering the
NEOs until you are ready to use them.
On the back of each NEO, pull the tab A until it comes out of the battery
compartment.

For more information about batteries and how to get the longest battery life,
see About NEO Batteries and Power Sources on page 221. To replace
batteries, see page 222.

Installing and Charging a Rechargeable Battery Pack


If you ordered a rechargeable battery pack, charge it as soon as possible
after you receive it (see steps 68 on the next page). Do not store the NEO
without first charging the batteries.
1. If the battery pack is already installed, go to step 6 to charge it; if not, go
to step 2 below.
2. Remove the Phillips screw from the back of the NEO (A on the next
page). Then, put your thumbs in the circles on the battery compartment
cover B and slide the cover toward the left to remove it from the NEO.
NEO 2
User Manual

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GETTING S TARTED
Installing and Charging a Rechargeable Battery Pack

A
B

3. If AA batteries are already installed, remove them from the battery


compartment.
4. Insert the rechargeable battery pack in the NEO with the cable end toward
the matching cable in the NEO. Then, gently pull that cable out and
connect it to the rechargeable battery pack.

5. Put the battery compartment cover back on and slide it back in place.
Insert the small Phillips screw in the hole provided and tighten the screw
to make sure the cover stays shut.

NEO 2
User Manual

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GETTING STARTED
Installing and Charging a Rechargeable Battery Pack

6. Connect the AC adapter cord to your NEO at the connector shown C,


and plug the cord into a working electrical outlet. The batteries will
automatically start charging.

Rechargeable
batteries should be
conditioned so they
hold a full charge. For more
information, see page 223.

7. The first time you charge the battery pack, let it charge for 16 hours.
Whenever you recharge the battery pack, let it charge for 48 hours. The
light on the front of the NEO D is green when the NEO is fully charged.
You can use your NEO while its charging, but dont disconnect it until the
light on the front turns green to show you that it is fully charged.

8. Disconnect the AC adapter cord when youve finished charging the


battery pack.

NEO 2
User Manual

.....

GETTING S TARTED
Starting the NEO

S t a r t i ng t h e N E O
To start your NEO after you install the batteries, press on/off A.

You can use the TwoButton On setting to


require you to press
both on/off and the enter
key to start the NEO. This
helps prevent the NEO from
being turned on accidentally.
See page 174 to turn this
setting on using the NEO
Control Panel, or go to
page 183 to find out how to
change it for NEOs using the
system settings in the NEO
Manager software.

When you want to shut down your NEO, just press the on/off key again.
NEO will shut itself off if it has been idle for 4 minutes in most SmartApplets
(but after 30 minutes in the Responder SmartApplet and 10 minutes in the
Accelerated Reader SmartApplet).
To change the idle time on one NEO in the Control Panel, see page 180; to
change it in the system settings in the NEO Manager software, see page 181.
Please note that any changes you make will not affect the Accelerated
Reader and Responder SmartApplets.

Starting to Write on Your NEO


When you start your NEO, it opens the AlphaWord Plus SmartApplet, where
you can do your writing. Simply press one of the file keys at the top of the
keyboard to choose the file that you want to write in, and begin typing. Your
writing is saved as you type. If you turn off the NEO, or if it shuts itself off after
it has been idle, you will still find your writing in that file when you start the
NEO again.
For more information about writing in AlphaWord Plus, see page 22.

NEO 2
User Manual

.....

GETTING STARTED
SmartApplets Included on Your NEO

SmartApplets Included on Your NEO


AlphaWord Plus isnt the only SmartApplet installed on your NEO 2. Each
NEO 2 also comes with several other SmartApplets (programs) installed. The
table below describes these SmartApplets.

SmartApplet

Purpose

Responder

Use this SmartApplet to use your NEO 2 as you would use a Renaissance Responder.
You or your students can use it with the 2Know! Toolbar, AccelTest software, and
Accelerated Math RP. You must have a Renaissance Receiver to use NEO 2 as you would
use a Responder. For more information, see page 84.

AlphaWord Plus

Use this SmartApplet to write on your NEO. This SmartApplet opens automatically when
you start the NEO unless you have changed the startup SmartApplet (see page 75). For
more about writing on your NEO, see page 22.

Accelerated Reader

Students can use this SmartApplet to take some Accelerated Reader quizzes on their
NEO 2s if you have a Renaissance Receiver and meet other requirements. For more
information, see page 93.

KeyWords Wireless

Use this to learn keyboarding or to teach it to your students. For more information about
KeyWords Wireless, see page 114.

MathFacts in a
Flash RP

Students can use this SmartApplet to complete MathFacts in a Flash practices and tests
on their NEO 2s just as they would when they log in to Renaissance Place on a computer
at school. To use this SmartApplet, you need a Renaissance Receiver, and you must meet
other requirements. For more information, see page 100.

MathFacts in a
Flash (offline)

This SmartApplet allows students to practice math facts on their own, much as they would
on Renaissance Responders or in Renaissance Home Connect. Work done in this
SmartApplet is not counted as school work, but it can be sent to Renaissance Place. In
Renaissance Place, the results of this practice can be included in the MathFacts in a Flash
Class Progress and Student Record Reports if you include the practice summary. For
more information, see page 105.

Beamer

Use this to send (or beam) files to another NEO or to receive files from another NEO
through the infrared port. For more information, see page 200.

Control Panel

Use this to change settings for the NEO or for SmartApplets. For more information, see
page 171.

AlphaQuiz
(US only)

Use this SmartApplet to administer quizzes to students on the NEO. On your computer,
youll need to install QuizDesigner and QuizManager. QuizDesigner allows you to create
the quizzes, and QuizManager allows you to send the quizzes to NEOs and retrieve
student responses. You can download the programs and instructions from our website or
install the programs and open the instructions in the NEO Manager CDs AlphaQuiz folder
(if you received a CD). AlphaQuiz is not installed on new NEO 2s; you can install this and
other SmartApplets using NEO Manager (see page 78).

Calculator

Use this to do mathematical calculations. See page 205.

NEO 2
User Manual

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GETTING S TARTED
Connecting a NEO to Your Computer

Connecting a NEO to Your Computer


You should connect your NEO to your computer when you want to
If you have a
SmartOption Mobile
Lab, and you want to
use NEO Manager to work
with your NEOs, connect
them to the lab instead of
connecting them directly to
your computer. See the
instructions that came with
your lab.

Send a file to a program in your computer (see page 9).


Manage your NEO using the NEO Manager software (see page 12).
Follow these steps to connect the NEO to your computer:
1. If this is the first time you have connected the NEO to your computer,
check the following:

Make sure that you are logged in as an administrator or that you have
permissions that allow the device drivers to load properly.

Make sure the NEO Manager software is running on the computer.

2. Using the cable that came with the NEO, connect the thin, flat connector
A to your computer, and connect the square end B to your NEO at C.

B
C

On Windows XP
computers, you may
be notified that the
driver is not certified for
Windows XP. The driver will
work for your system; to go on,
click Continue Anyway.

3. On Windows computers, you may be prompted to install a driver the first


time you connect your NEO to the computer with a USB cable. If so,
accept the default values in the Wizard and click Next > in each panel.
When youve finished, restart the computer.
On Macintosh OS 10 computers, the first time you connect your NEO, a
keyboard setup assistant will open. Follow the instructions in the
assistant.
4. The message on your NEO will tell you that it is connected and remind
you what to press to send a file or to switch files.

NEO 2
User Manual

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GETTING STARTED
Sending Files from One NEO to Your Computer

Sending Files from One NEO to Your Computer


If you have a
SmartOption Mobile
Lab, there are two
ways to send files from
multiple NEOs to your
computer:
You can retrieve and open
files from NEOs using the
NEO Manager software. See
page 51.
If you use NEO Share,
students can press cmd-send
to send files back to you. See
the NEO Share User Manual.

If you are using just one NEO, you can send NEO files to a program on your
computer by connecting NEO to the computer with a cable and then sending
the file.
You can send files to any program that allows you to type text, including word
processing programs, text fields in multimedia or graphics programs, or
spreadsheet programs. If you are using a spreadsheet program, on NEO, you
can set up data using tabs and returns so it transfers into your spreadsheet
program more smoothly.
Follow these steps to send a file over a cable connection:
1. Exit NEO Manager on the computer if the program is running.
2. Turn on your NEO and open the file that you want to send by pressing one
of the file keys or opening a saved file (see page 26).
3. Connect the NEO to your computer (see page 8).
4. On your computer, open the program and file that you want to send the
NEO file into. Place your cursor where you want the NEO text to start.

If your text isnt


correct in your
computer file, your
computer program may need
a slower transfer speed. See
page 179 to change the
transfer speed for USB cable
connection file transfers.

5. Press send on your NEO. As NEO sends the file, you will see the
following:

The text from the NEO file will begin appearing in the file on your
computer. (If the NEO file has a linked file, the main file text will be
sent first; then, the linked file text will be sent.)

The NEO will show a progress bar as the file is sent.

Wait until the entire file is sent.


6. Save the file on your computer.
7. If you want to send another file from your NEO, do this:

When connected to a Windows computer: Press and the file


number key on the NEO to switch to that file on the NEO.

When connected to a Macintosh computer: Press , option, and


the file number key on the NEO to switch to that file on the NEO.

Then, open the file on your computer where you want to send the NEO
file. Press send again on the NEO.
8. Disconnect the cable from your computer and the NEO.
9. If you dont want to keep the file on the NEO, press clear file to delete the text.

NEO 2
User Manual

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GETTING S TARTED
Printing Files from Your NEO

Printing Files from Your NEO


For more about
printers
compatibility with
NEO, go to
http://support.renlearn.com/
techkb/techkb/6833262e.asp.

You can print a NEO file from your computer after sending it (see page 9) or
retrieving it using NEO Manager (see page 51). You can also print directly
from your NEO. There are three ways to do this:
You can connect your NEO to a printer with a USB cable and then press
print on the NEO as described below.
You can use IR beaming to send the file from NEO to your printer as
described below.
For NEO 2 only, you can use wireless printing. See the next page.
NEO doesnt control print settings such as font, print quality, margins, and so
on. These settings are determined by the printers default settings.

Print ing from NEO Using a USB Cable Connection


1. Plug one end of the printers USB cable into NEOs USB printer port A.

2. Make sure the other end of the USB cable is plugged into the printer, and
make sure the printer is on.
3. Make sure NEO is turned on.
4. Open the NEO file that you want to print. (If you want to print a linked file
instead of the main file, press ctrl-L to open the linked file. For more about
linked files, see page 40.)
5. Press print on NEO to print the open file.

How t o Send Text to a Pri nter Using IR Beaming


If your printer has an IR transceiver, you can print using IR beaming. Follow
these steps:
1. Make sure your NEO is turned on.
2. Open the NEO file that you want to print. (If you want to print a linked file
instead of the main file, press ctrl-L to open the linked file.)

10

NEO 2
User Manual

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GETTING STARTED
Printing Files from Your NEO

3. Point your NEOs IR port A toward the printers IR transceiver.

4. Press print on the NEO to print the open file.

How t o Pri nt Wirelessly Usi ng NEO 2s RF Capabili ty


To print wirelessly with NEO 2, you must have a Renaissance Receiver
connected to your computer. (See page 17 to set up the Receiver.) The
NEO 2 file will print to your computers default printer.
1. Make sure your NEO 2 is turned on.
2. Open the NEO file that you want to print. (If you want to print a linked file
instead of the main file, press ctrl-L to open the linked file. For more about
linked files, see page 40.)
3. Press print on the NEO 2.
4. NEO 2 will look for a cable connection first, then for an IR connection. If
neither is found, NEO 2 will search for networks (that is, computers
connected to Renaissance Receivers).
When it lists those networks, use the arrow keys to highlight the Receiver
name you want. Then, press enter. NEO 2 will connect to the computer
that has that Receiver, and it will print to the computers default printer.

NEO 2
User Manual

11

.....

GETTING S TARTED
Getting Started with the NEO Manager Software

G e t t i n g S t a r t e d w it h t he N E O M a na g e r S o f t w a r e
About t he NEO Manager Soft ware
When you install the NEO Manager software on your computer, it can help
you manage a single NEO or up to 30 NEOs in a SmartOption Mobile Lab.
With NEO Manager software, you can do the following:

NEO Manager Tasks

Where to Find
Instructions

Send files to your NEOs. You can send any text, rubrics for
assignments, or Write On! lessons to specific files on your
NEOs. You can also send linked files.

Page 63

Get files from your NEOs and view, print, or save them. This is
faster than sending files to your computer one by one from
each NEO.

Page 51

Retrieve students KeyWords work from NEO 2s, view reports


on that work, and send the data to Renaissance Place.

Page 143

Install and delete SmartApplets on your NEOs.

Pages 78 and 80

Change settings for connected NEOs. For example, you can


change the master password or file passwords.

Page 181

Keep track of the connected NEOs and their status.

Page 16

Installi ng t he NEO Manager Softwar e


Follow the instructions for your type of computer to install the NEO Manager
software.
Note: The Renaissance Wireless Server Utility is installed with the NEO
Manager software. This utility is used if you have a Renaissance Receiver
and one or more NEO2s.

On Windows Computers
NEO Manager software works in Windows XP, Windows Vista, Windows 7,
and Windows 8.
1. Make sure that you are logged in to the computer as an administrator or
that you have administrator privileges.
2. If you have a NEO Manager CD, insert it into your computer and view the
contents.

12

NEO 2
User Manual

.....

GETTING STARTED
Getting Started with the NEO Manager Software

If you have downloaded a new version of the software, extract the files
from the .zip file you downloaded. View the extracted files.
3. Double-click the setup.exe file.
On Windows 7, you
may be asked whether
you want to allow the
program to make changes to
your computer. Click Yes to
continue.

4. If your computer does not have Microsoft .NET Framework Full, you will
see a message telling you that NEO Manager requires it. Click Install.
On Windows 8, instead of seeing the .NET installer, you will be notified
that an app needs this feature; click Download and install this feature.
5. When the NEO Manager installation wizard opens, click Next > in the first
panel.
6. Read the license agreement. You can print the license if you wish by
clicking the button provided. Click the first option to accept the terms and
click Next >.
7. If you already have Renaissance Wireless Server installed, you may see a
screen that tells you that it is using files that need to be updated. Leave
the first option (Automatically close and attempt to restart
applications) selected and click OK.
8. On 64-bit computers only, this happens next:
a. A message will tell you that 64-bit drivers must be installed. Click OK.
b. The NEO Manager 64-bit Driver wizard will open. Click Next >.
c. Leave Complete selected and click Next >.
d. Click Install.
e. Click Finish.
9. If you need to restart your computer, on the last panel of the NEO
Manager installation wizard, click an option to choose whether to restart
your computer now or later. Then, click Finish.
If a restart is not required, leave the box checked if you want to view the
Read Me file. Click Finish.

On Macintosh Computers
NEO Manager software works in OS 10.4.x, 10.5.x, 10.6.x, 10.7.x, and
10.8.x.
1. Make sure that you are logged in to the computer as an administrator or
that you have administrator privileges.
2. If you have a NEO Manager CD, insert it into your computer and view the
contents.
If you have downloaded a new version of the software, open the .dmg file
you downloaded.
3. Double-click NEO Manager Installer.
NEO 2
User Manual

13

.....

GETTING S TARTED
Getting Started with the NEO Manager Software

4. Enter the administrator user name and password for the computer. Then,
click OK.
5. Read the license agreement. (You can use the buttons to print or save it.)
Then, click Continue.
6. Click Agree when the program asks if you want to agree to the license
agreement.
7. Click Install to start the installation.
8. Click OK when a message tells you that it may automatically restart your
computer after installation.
9. The installer will also ask if you want to add the program to the dock. Click
Yes or No. The installation will finish. Your computer may restart.
After installation, the folders where NEO Manager and the Renaissance
Wireless Server Utility were installed will open.

St art ing the NEO Manager Sof tware


On Windows Computers
In most Windows versions, you will find the NEO Manager program in the
Start menu. In Windows 8, you can find it in the list of applications available.

On Macintosh Computers
1. Open the Applications folder on your computer.
2. Open the AlphaSmart folder, then the AlphaSmart Manager 2 folder.
3. Double-click NEO Manager.
If you have added NEO Manager to the dock, you can click the icon in the
dock instead of following the steps above.

Regi stering the Software


Registration for
Renaissance Online
Plus gives you
access to product tips and
other useful information as
well as notifications of
software updates.

14

The first time you start the program, a Registration window will open, asking
you to register your software. You can click Now, Later (to be reminded in two
weeks), or Never.
If you choose Now, you will go to the Renaissance Online Plus page. If you
already have an account on the Renaissance Learning website, you can log
in; if not, choose to create a new account. Once you are logged in, you can
select your products and the information you would like to receive, then click
Submit. When you have finished, click Done.

NEO 2
User Manual

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GETTING STARTED
Getting Started with the NEO Manager Software

About t he Tabs in NEO Manager


NEO Manager has a tab for each type of task in the program:

Get/Print AlphaWord Files: Use this tab to get the AlphaWord Plus files
that are in files 18 on each connected NEO. You can then view, print, or
save the files. For more information, see page 51.
AlphaWord Files to Send: Use this tab to send text files, linked files,
rubrics for assignments, or Write On! lessons to any of the numbered files
on the connected NEOs. For more information, see page 63.
KeyWords: Use this tab to retrieve data about student work in KeyWords
from the connected NEO 2s and to send the data to Renaissance Place.
For more information, see page 143.
SmartApplets: Use this tab to install or remove SmartApplets on the
connected NEOs. This is a good way to make sure several NEOs have the
same SmartApplets. For more information, see page 74.
Settings: Use this tab to change the system settings or SmartApplet
settings for connected NEOs. For more information, see page 181.
Send List: Use this tab to review a list of the files, SmartApplets, or
changes that you have chosen to send to NEOs. You can also choose
which NEOs to send these items to. When youre ready, you can click
Send. For more about send lists, see page 192.

NEO 2
User Manual

15

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GETTING S TARTED
Getting Started with the NEO Manager Software

Monit ori ng the Connected NEOs i n NEO Manager


The bottom of the NEO Manager window shows you how many NEO 2s
(NEO devices) are connected A.

Click
B (Windows) or (Macintosh) to see the status of all connected
NEOs. You might need to wait a few moments before you see the connection
information.
Several NEOs connected through an AlphaHub in
One NEO connected with a USB cable
a SmartOption Mobile Lab

16

NEO 2
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GETTING STARTED
Setting Up the Renaissance Receiver and Using NEO 2s Wireless Capabilities

You will see a circle for each connected NEO. The color of the circle shows
the status of the connection:

In the NEO Manager


preferences, you can
choose to always
open the connection status
when you start NEO
Manager. See page 195.

Green circle with a 2: Your NEO 2 is properly connected.

Yellow circle: The connected NEO needs updating.

Red circle: An AS3000 is connected. This version of NEO Manager is


not compatible with AS3000s, and you cannot have both NEOs and
AS3000s connected to the SmartOption Mobile Lab.

Black circle: Your NEO is not connected or is improperly connected


(refer to Troubleshooting on page 213).

When youre properly connected, you can transfer information between your
NEO and your computer.

Setting Up the Renaissance Receiver and Using NEO 2s


Wireless Capabilities
If you have a Renaissance Receiver, you can use NEO 2s wireless
capabilities to print wirelessly to your computers default printer. You can also
use NEO 2 with the following Renaissance Learning products:
2Know! Toolbar: NEO 2 users can respond to questions on a NEO 2. See
page 91.
AccelTest: Students can use NEO 2 to enter their answers to assignment
questions and send their answers to the software. See page 84.
Accelerated Math RP: Students can use NEO 2 to enter their answers to
assisted-response Accelerated Math assignments (paper assignments
only). See page 88.
Accelerated Reader RP: Students can take Reading Practice Quizzes
(English and Spanish), Vocabulary Practice Quizzes, and Other Reading
Quizzes on a NEO 2. See page 93.
KeyWords RP: If you are using KeyWords Wireless (see page 114) in
online mode, you can import your Renaissance Place students into NEO
Manager and they can log in to NEO 2 to use KeyWords Wireless.
MathFacts in a Flash RP: On NEO 2, students can complete their school
MathFacts in a Flash practices or tests on a NEO 2 using the MathFacts in
a Flash RP SmartApplet (see page 100), or they can practice on their own
using the MathFacts in a Flash (offline) SmartApplet (see page 105). and
then sent the results of offline practice to Renaissance Place.

NEO 2
User Manual

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GETTING S TARTED
Setting Up the Renaissance Receiver and Using NEO 2s Wireless Capabilities

Before you can use NEO 2 with these products, you must
Connect the Renaissance Receiver to your computer.
Name the Renaissance Receiver/computer connection (network).
Set up the Renaissance Place settings if you want to use NEO 2 with
Accelerated Reader, KeyWords RP, or MathFacts in a Flash.
Install the Renaissance Responder client as described in the Accelerated
Math Software Manual if you want to use NEO 2 with Accelerated Math RP.

Connect ing the Renaissance Recei ver to Your Computer


1. Make sure you have installed NEO Manager before connecting the
Renaissance Receiver. See page 12. This is important because the
Renaissance Wireless Server Utility is installed with NEO Manager.
2. The first time you connect the Receiver to your computer, make sure you
are logged in to your computer as an administrator or that you have
administrator privileges. This ensures that the device drivers load
properly.
3. Plug the square end of the data cable into the back of the Receiver A.

A
B

4. Connect the flat USB connector on the data cable to a matching USB port
on your computer B.

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NEO 2
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GETTING STARTED
Setting Up the Renaissance Receiver and Using NEO 2s Wireless Capabilities

Naming the Renai ssance Recei ver (Wirel ess Network)


The Renaissance
Wireless Server
Utility is
automatically installed with
NEO Manager. Make sure
you have installed NEO
Manager before you follow
these steps.

It is important to set a unique name for the computer/Receiver combination


(network) so that students know theyre connecting to the correct Receiver.
This is especially important if you have more than one Renaissance Receiver
in the same building. Follow these steps to set a name:
1. Start the Renaissance Wireless Server Utility. In most Windows versions,
you will find the utility in your Start menu; in Windows 8, you can find it in
the list of applications available. On Macintosh computers, you will find it
in the Applications folder.
2. Type 1234 and click OK to log in. (This is the default Administrator PIN. If
you have changed the PIN, enter your new PIN.) If necessary, click Start.

You can also change


the Administrator
PIN on this tab by
clicking Set Administrator
PIN, entering a new PIN, and
clicking OK. Be sure to update
the network settings if you do
this.

3. Click the Server Settings tab.


4. Enter a new name in the Network Name field A. Make sure the name is
different from the name of your schools other Receivers.

5. Click Update Network Settings B.


6. Click OK when the program finishes updating the network settings. Make
sure your students know the Receiver network name.

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GETTING S TARTED
Setting Up the Renaissance Receiver and Using NEO 2s Wireless Capabilities

Setti ng t he Renaissance Place Address


If you will be using your NEO 2s with Accelerated Reader RP, KeyWords RP,
or MathFacts in a Flash RP, follow these steps to set the Renaissance Place
web address (or RPID) so that the NEO 2s can communicate with the
programs.
1. Start the Renaissance Wireless Server Utility. In most Windows versions,
you will find the utility in the Start menu; in Windows 8, you can find it in
the list of applications available. On Macintosh computers, you will find it
in the Applications folder.
2. Type 1234 and click OK to log in. (This is the default Administrator PIN. If
you have changed the PIN, enter your new PIN.) If necessary, click Start.
3. Click the Server Settings tab.
4. Click Renaissance Place Settings.
5. Enter the web address or RPID for the Renaissance Place server where
you are using Accelerated Reader RP, KeyWords RP, and/or MathFacts in
a Flash RP. (You can find the web address or RPID on the Software
Requirements page in Renaissance Place; the RPID is also on your
Renaissance Place Welcome page.)

6. Click Verify to make sure the utility recognizes it as a valid address.


7. Click OK when the program verifies that the settings were changed
successfully.

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NEO 2
User Manual

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GETTING STARTED
Installing and Using NEO Share

Installing and Using NEO Share


NEO Share software is also included. NEO Share is a quick and easy way to
send text or files to NEO 2 users and receive files back from them as you
work with your group or class. Using NEO Share, you can:
Copy or drag text from another source into NEO Share and immediately
send it to NEO 2s, including text from websites and documents that you
have access to.
Make text files available for NEO 2 users to pick up, including Write On!
lessons, sample linked files (rubrics), and files in favorite folders.
Receive files that were sent back from NEO 2 users. You can open the files,
print them, or save them.
NEO Share works on your computer desktop or with interactive whiteboards
or projectors.
You can install NEO Share from the CD that you received or download it from
www.renlearn.com/neo/downloads/. To find out how to install and use NEO
Share, see the instructions you received in your kit or with the downloaded
software.

NEO 2
User Manual

21

U SING A LPHA W ORD P LUS TO W RITE ON NEO


Since AlphaWord Plus is the SmartApplet that you use to write on the NEO, it
is the one that you will probably use the most. Writing on NEO is easy
simply type the text, and it is automatically saved in the file that you have
open. This chapter provides more information about the many features of the
AlphaWord Plus SmartApplet.

Starting AlphaWord Plus


When you first receive your NEO, it starts AlphaWord Plus automatically
whenever you turn it on.
If you have changed the program that starts when you start the NEO (see
page 75), you can still open AlphaWord Plus by following these steps:
1. Press applets.
2. Use the arrow keys to move the cursor next to AlphaWord Plus.
3. Press enter.

Typing and Editing Text


When you first start NEO and it starts AlphaWord Plus, NEO opens file 1,
which is empty. The next time you start the NEO, it opens the file you last
worked on. The cursor is where you left it in that file.
If you want to work in a different file, open it by pressing one of the file keys
(file 1file 8) at the top of the keyboard. If you want to start a new file, but you
want to keep the text that was in that space (file 3, for example), you can
name the file (see page 25) and then close it by clearing the file (see
page 47). You can open named files later when youre ready to work on them
again.
file 1

file 2

file 3

file 4

file 5

file 6

file 7

file 8

To enter text in a file, simply begin typing. Use backspace or delete to erase
text youve typed. As with most word processors, text automatically wraps at
the end of each line. Press enter only when you want to separate
paragraphs. NEO saves each character as you type it.
The following tables show you how to move through your file, select text, and
cut, copy, paste, or delete text.

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Typing and Editing Text

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U S I N G A L P H AWO RD P L U S T O W R I T E O N N E O

Movi ng the Cursor


Press these keys...

...to move to this point:

One character to the left or right

One line up or down

Up one screen (scrolling)

Down one screen (scrolling)

Beginning of line

End of line

option- or option-

Previous word or next word

ctrl- or ctrl-

Previous sentence or next sentence

ctrl- or ctrl-

Previous paragraph or next paragraph

home

Beginning of file

end

End of file

Selecting Text
When you select text on your NEO, the selection is highlighted in reverse: the
selected text is light and the background is dark. To deselect text that youve
selected, press esc or an arrow key. (Cutting, copying, and pasting also
deselects the text.)

NEO 2
User Manual

Press these keys...

...to select the following:

shift-

One character to the left at a time

shift-

One character to the right at a time

shift-

One line up

shift-

One line down

shift-option-

From cursor to beginning of word

shift-option-

From cursor to end of word

shift--

From cursor to beginning of line

shift--

From cursor to end of line

shift-home

From cursor to beginning of file

shift-end

From cursor to end of file

ctrl-A or -A

Entire file

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U S I N G A L P H A WO RD P L U S T O W R I T E O N N E O
About the NEO Clipboard

Cutting, Copying, Pasting, and Delet ing Text


To cut, copy, or paste text, you must first select it (see the previous table).
Then, do one of the following:

To do this:

Press this:

Cut selected text and copy it to the clipboard

ctrl-X or -X

Copy selected text to the clipboard

ctrl-C or -C

Paste text from the clipboard into your file

ctrl-V or -V

Delete a character to the left of the cursor or


delete selected text

backspace

Delete a character to the right of the cursor or


delete selected text

delete

Remove the entire contents of the file

clear file

About the NEO Clipboard


NEO has a built-in clipboard like computers do. Whenever you cut or copy
text, it is placed in the clipboard. When you use the paste command, you
paste the text from the clipboard into a file (either the same file or a new file).
The clipboard can store one block of text at a time.
By following the instructions below, you can view the text in the clipboard or
the status of the clipboard at any time.

How t o See What Is I n the Cli pb o ar d


Press ctrl-option--C. If the text in the clipboard is too long to be shown in
one screen, you can use the arrow keys to scroll through the text.
Press esc to return to your file.

How t o See the Space Used and Avai labl e in the Clipboard
Press option--C. The screen shows you the number of text pages in the
clipboard and how much empty space (in pages) is still available.
Press any key to return to your file.

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Creating New Files

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U S I N G A L P H AWO RD P L U S T O W R I T E O N N E O

Creating New Files


To start a new file in AlphaWord Plus, press the file keys until you find an
empty file and begin typing. NEO saves each character as you type it, so if
you press that file key again later, the text will still be there (unless youve
removed it).
If you want to create a new file in a file space that already has text, follow
these steps:
1. Press the file key for the file number you want to work in.
2. Press ctrl-N.
3. AlphaWord Plus will ask whether you want to keep the text thats already
in this file:

Press Y if you want to save text, then type a name for the file.
AlphaWord Plus saves the text as a file with the name you specified,
then clears the numbered file so you can begin your new file. You can
open the file that you saved again later; see page 26.

Press N if you dont want to save the existing text. AlphaWord Plus
removes the text so you can begin your new file.

Naming and Saving Files


Teach students to
save their files when
they begin an
assignment to ensure that
they can retrieve the files even
if they clear a file space. Its
also helpful to teach students
to put a heading on every
document they create.

As you write, NEO automatically saves your work, even if you turn the NEO
off. However, you can name a file that youre working on at any time so that
you can keep it even if you clear the file space (see page 47) or create a new
file to work on something else.
You can open named files again later in one of the eight file spaces. (To find
out how to open a named file, see the next section.)
Follow these steps to name a file and save it outside the eight active files:
1. Go to the file you want to name.
2. Press ctrl-S.
3. Type a name for the file and press enter. You dont need to worry about
saving the file againit will save any additional changes to your text until
you close the file by clearing it or creating a new one.

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U S I N G A L P H A WO RD P L U S T O W R I T E O N N E O
Finding and Opening Files

Finding and Opening Files


To open a file that you know is in one of the eight active files, press the
appropriate file key.
If you dont know where the file is, you can find the file by its first line or name.
Follow these steps:
Its a good idea to
choose an empty file
space or one that
contains a named file before
you open another file. If you
have text in the file and you
havent named it, you will be
given the chance to name it.

1. Press one of the eight file keys to choose which file space you want to
use.
2. Do one of the following to find a file:

To see a list of files by first line, press ctrl-F. The list will include both
the numbered files and named files that arent open in files 18.

To see a list of files by name, press ctrl-O.

3. Use the arrow keys to move the cursor next to the file you want to open;
then, press enter.
By naming the file,
youre making sure
you can open it
again later. Named files that
arent open are listed when
you press ctrl-F or ctrl-O.

If the file doesnt open right away, you may see one of these messages:

Message

Why It Appears

What to Do

Would you like to


keep the current file?

You already have text


in the file number that
you chose.

Press Y if you want to keep


the file. You must enter a
name so that you can open
the file again later. After you
do that, the new file you chose
will open.

Press Y for Yes


Press N for No

Press N if you dont want to


keep the file that you already
have open. The new file that
you chose will open instead.
Press the enter key to
open:
[file name] in [F#]

26

The file that you


chose to open is
already open in
another file number.

If you want to go to the file in


the file number shown, press
enter.
If you want to stay in the
current file number, press esc.

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User Manual

Formatting Text

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U S I N G A L P H AWO RD P L U S T O W R I T E O N N E O

Formatting Text
NEO lets you concentrate on the content of your text rather than its layout.
Only the characters themselves (ASCII key codes) are transferred from NEO
to the computer. You can set the file margins, fonts, and other style attributes
after you send a file to your computer (see page 9).
You can, however, change the size of the screen font on your NEO. See
Changing Font Size below for details.
You can also press the tab key to create columns or paragraph indents in
your file. If you have Show Marks on, tabs look like this: . If Show Marks is
not on, tabs look like spaces between characters.

Changing Font Size


Avail able Font Si zes
You can change the font size that is used on your screen when you work in
AlphaWord Plus or AlphaQuiz 3.1. The font change does not affect other
SmartApplets, and AlphaQuiz 3.1 does not support the Very Large or Extra
Large fonts.
Changing the font doesnt add any attributes to the text, so when you send
text to your computer or printer, the text itself is plain text and uses your
default font or the font youve chosen in your computer program.
How the System and
Large fonts are
different: Although
both are four-line fonts, the
System font is a fixed-width or
monospace font, and the
Large font is a proportional
font. In fixed-width fonts, every
character and space occupies
the exact same width. In
proportionally spaced fonts,
each character occupies only
the space it needs to display
that particular character. In
the examples in the table, note
the different widths of the
words William, ill, and
lollipop in each illustration.

NEO 2
User Manual

When you change the font size, that change applies to all files in AlphaWord
Plus. You cant set different font sizes for different files. If, for some reason,
some of the font sizes are removed from your NEO (using NEO Manager),
AlphaWord Plus goes back to the four-line System font.
The six font sizes are shown in the table below.

Font Name
System

Lines Per
Screen

Example

4
(Fixed Width)

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U S I N G A L P H A WO RD P L U S T O W R I T E O N N E O
Changing Font Size

Lines Per
Screen

Font Name
Extra Large

Very Large

Large

4
(Proportional)

Medium

Small

Example

You can set the font size in one of three ways:


By using a keyboard command as described below.
Through the Control Panel SmartApplet (see the instructions below and on
page 174).
Through NEO Manager. Note, however, that NEO Manager can only reset
the font size to the System font (four lines onscreen). See page 182.

Changing the Font Si ze on the NEO


1. Do one of the following:

28

Press ctrl-option--F.

Press applets, move the cursor next to Control Panel, and press
enter. Use the arrow keys to move the cursor next to Change default
AlphaWord font and press enter.
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Finding Text

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U S I N G A L P H AWO RD P L U S T O W R I T E O N N E O

2. Move the cursor next to the font size you want to use, then press enter.
(The current size has + next to it.)

If you changed the font size with the keyboard command, you will go back to
the file where you were working. If you used Control Panel, you will return to
the list of settings; to see the new font size, press applets, then select
AlphaWord Plus.

Finding Text
There are a few ways to find text within AlphaWord Plus files:
You can search for a text string within a file or across all files. See the
instructions below.
You can search and replace text within a file (see page 30).
You can view a list of sections in a particular file. Sections are separated by
paragraph returns, and the section selector displays the first line of each
paragraph. See page 31.

Searchi ng f or Text i n One Fi le or All Fil es


Follow these steps to search for text within the current file or within all files:
1. Press find or -F.

2. Type the text you want to find, keeping these tips in mind:

NEO 2
User Manual

You can enter up to 16 characters, including spaces.

If youve searched for text before, press clear file to remove that text
before typing the new text you want to find.

Note that this type of search is not case-sensitive, but if you choose to
find and replace (see page 30), you can make that search casesensitive.

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Finding Text

3. Do one of the following:

To search within the current file, press enter.

To search within all files, press option-enter. (You cant search all files
if password protection is enabled on your NEO; see page 71.)

To exit the Find screen without searching, press esc.

4. If the text string is found, the cursor appears at the beginning of the found
text.
If NEO cant find the text you entered, you will see a brief message to tell
you so.
If you chose to search within all files, the NEO will open each of the files
looking for instances of the word and go to the first one it finds.
5. To find the same text again, press -G.

Fi nding and Replacing Text in One File


Follow these steps to search and replace in the file you have open. (You cant
search and replace in all files at the same time.)
1. Press ctrl-find. You will go to the Find/Replace screen.

You can use the


clipboard to paste
text into both the Find
and Replace With fields.

2. Type the text you want to find in the Find field, keeping these tips in mind:

You can search for up to 100 characters, including spaces.

If you searched for and replaced text before, press clear file in each
field to remove your earlier text entries.

3. Press tab or to move to the Replace field.


4. Type the replacement text.
5. Press tab or , then press or to move between options for the
search (whole word, match case, and replace all). Press the spacebar to
enable or disable each option. When the option is selected, youll see *
between the parentheses next to that option.

30

Whole word searches for complete words only. If you dont select this
option, NEO searches for characters that may be part of a longer word
or part of more than one word (for example, searching for hat would
find that, chat, and hatchet).

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Finding Text

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U S I N G A L P H AWO RD P L U S T O W R I T E O N N E O

Match case finds text that exactly matches the capitalization of the
text you typed in the Find field.

Replace all specifies that you want to replace all occurrences within
the file.

6. Press enter to begin the search. When the text is found, the NEO will
show you the first occurrence with options listed to the right as in the
example below.

7. Do one of the following:

Type R to replace the found text with the replacement text.

Type S to skip that occurrence of the found text and leave it as is.

Press the arrow keys to scroll through the surrounding text so you can
see the found text in the context of nearby text.

Press esc to exit without finding or replacing this or any other text.

Fi nding Secti ons in a Fi le


In AlphaWord Plus, a section is a block of text separated by 19 blank lines.
In longer files, it is helpful to go straight to one of these sections instead of
scrolling through the files. To do this, follow these steps:
1. Press -S to display a list of sections in the open file.
2. The number in the top right corner of the screen shows how many blank
lines AlphaWord Plus expects to see between sections A.
If you have more or fewer blank lines between sections in this document,
type the number you have used (any number from 1 to 9). When
AlphaWord Plus asks if you want to change the section separator, press Y
for yes.

3. Use the arrow keys to move the cursor next to the section you want; then,
press enter to move to the beginning of the section you chose.
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U S I N G A L P H A WO RD P L U S T O W R I T E O N N E O
Finding Text

An Example of How to Search for Sections in a File


In the example below, the user typed two blank lines between sections of the
document about bears. For this document, when you are looking for a
section, you would press -S to see a list of sections and press 2 to change
the number of blank lines between sections to two. You would then see a list
like the one shown.
An example of how you
might format your file in
AlphaWord Plus

How sections might


appear when blank
lines are set to 2

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U S I N G A L P H AWO RD P L U S T O W R I T E O N N E O

Checking Spelling
How t o Check Spel ling in a Fil e
Follow these steps to check spelling in an AlphaWord Plus file.
You can disable spell
check. See page 34.

1. Open the file that you want to check.


2. Press spell check to check the whole file, or press ctrl-spell check to
check text that you have selected.
3. Spell check begins checking each word in your file. If it finds a word that
isnt in its dictionary, spell check gives you suggestions as in the example
shown here (which found the word runn in the file).

Do one of the following:

More about the user


dictionary. The ability
to add words to the
user dictionary can be
disabled by changing the spell
check settings in the NEO
Control Panel (see page 172)
or in NEO Manager (see
page 186). You can create
your own custom user
dictionary for AlphaWord Plus
so that the spell check does
not question unusual words
that you use often. See
page 35 for details.

NEO 2
User Manual

Use the arrow keys to select the correct word from the list of
suggested spellings and press enter to change this word or ctrl-enter
to replace all occurrences of the mistake in this file.

Press i to ignore the word and go on to check the next word, or press
ctrl-i to ignore all occurrences of this word in the file.

Press E to edit the word. Then, after New, type the new word you
want and press enter to make the change.

Press C to see the word in context. You cant make changes to the
misspelled word while viewing it in context. To go back, press any key.

Press A to add the word to the user dictionary so that AlphaWord Plus
does not question the spelling of the word in the future. When the
program tells you the word has been added, press any key.

Press esc to exit spell check.

4. If you havent exited spell check by pressing esc, when it finishes


checking your file, it notifies you that the spell check is complete and
returns you to your file.

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Checking Spelling

Turning Off Spell Check


At times, you may want to turn off the spell check feature. For example, if
students use NEO for spelling assignments, you may not want them to be
able to spell check their work.
There are three ways to turn off spell check or turn it back on:
You can set the
master password
using the System
settings in NEO Manager.
See page 168.

You can press option--spell check on a NEO and enter the master
password.
You can use the Control Panel SmartApplet on one NEO (page 172).
From NEO Manager, you can disable spell check for all connected NEOs
(see page 186).
For the first two methods, youll need to enter the NEOs master password.
You can get the default master password from Technical Support, or you can
set your own master password for your NEOs using the System settings in
the NEO Manager software (see page 168).

Addi ng Words to the User Di ctionary


If you use words that regularly trip up your spell checkssuch as scientific
terms, proper names, or acronymsyou can add them to the AlphaWord
Plus dictionary so that spell check doesnt question them in the future. There
are three ways to add words to the user dictionary:
During the spell check, you can press A for add when spell check
questions the word.
Using the Spell Check Settings in the Control Panel (see page 172), you
can add words to the user dictionary or delete the user dictionary. (You can
also turn off the ability to add words to the dictionary.)
You can create a text file on your computer that contains the words to be
added, and then you can send it to your NEO(s) using NEO Manager. See
the next section.
This is the most efficient method if you have more than one NEO because it
updates multiple NEOs at the same time and it allows you to add several
words at the same time. You can also delete words from the user dictionary
using this method. (You cant using the other methods.)
Whenever you make updates to your user dictionary text file, simply use
NEO Manager to send the file again, and the existing user dictionary on the
NEO(s) will be overwritten.

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Sending a New User Dictionary to NEOs Using NEO Manager


Instead of adding words one by one as you
do spell checks on your NEOs, you can
create a text file on your computer that
contains all the words you want to be in the
user dictionary on your NEOs. Then, you
can use NEO Manager to send that file to
your NEOs to replace the user dictionary.
You can separate words in a text file with
spaces, commas, tabs, or returns. (The
example to the right uses returns.)
You can also delete a
user dictionary
using the spell
check settings in NEO
Manager. See page 186.

Each NEO can only have one user


dictionary. When you send a new one, it
overwrites the existing user dictionary on
the NEO.

SpiffyPro
Oban
Turlock
Cumbria
Bena
Caden
Cupertino
Islay
MegaSync
Aptos
Surrey

If you want to add or remove words in your


NEO user dictionary, you can change the word list in the text file on your
computer and resend it to your NEOs.
Follow these steps to send a user dictionary to NEOs:
1. Start NEO Manager (see page 14) and connect one NEO (see page 8) or
a SmartOption Mobile Lab.
2. Using a word-processing program on your computer, create a list of words
and save the file as a text file with a .txt file extension in the name (such
as mywords.txt).
3. In NEO Manager, click the File menu and choose Send User Dictionary.
4. Browse to select the text file you created; then, click Open (Windows) or
Choose (Macintosh).
5. Click the Send List tab and verify that your list of words appears in the
SpellCheck Files area of the send list.
6. If you are using a SmartOption Mobile Lab and you want to send the user
dictionary to some, but not all, of the NEOs, click Select Devices, check
the NEOs that you want to send the user dictionary to, and click OK. (To
send to all connected NEOs, skip this step.)
7. Click Send. If you have set a send list password (see page 194), you must
enter that password and click OK.

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Using the Thesaurus or the Spanish-English Word Lookup

Using the Thesaurus or the Spanish-English Word


Lookup
Using the Thesaurus
Keeping writing lively and interesting can be a challenge, but a thesaurus can
help. AlphaWord Plus includes a thesaurus that you can use to replace a
word with a synonym or antonym.
To use the thesaurus, follow these steps:
1. In your file, move your cursor so it is either just before or inside the word
you want to look up. (You can skip this step if you want to look up a word
that isnt in your file.)
2. Press ctrl-T to open the thesaurus.
3. If you moved the cursor next to a word, it will be shown between the
brackets.
If there is no word in the brackets A, or if you want to look up a different
word, type the word you want to look up. (If you need to delete text that is
already between the brackets, press clear file.)

4. Press enter.
5. If the word was found, you will be asked to pick a category (or part of
speech) as shown below. Use the arrow keys to move the cursor next to a
category and press enter. (If the word could not be found in the
thesaurus, you can press enter to look up a different word or esc to exit.)

6. Next, some synonyms for the word will be listed. You can do any of the
following:

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If you see a word that you want to use, move the cursor next to it and
press enter.

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If you want to look up more words like one in the list, move the cursor
next to a word and press L.

If you want to see antonyms (words with the opposite meaning),


press A.

If you want to go back and choose a different category, press C.

If you want to leave the thesaurus without doing anything, press esc.

7. If you chose to use a word, move the cursor to choose one of these
options and press enter:

Replace the original word in your file.

Copy the word you chose to the clipboard so you can paste it
elsewhere.

Do a new search in the thesaurus for the word you selected.

8. Depending on what you chose, you will either return to your file or to the
thesaurus.

Repl aci ng t he Thesaurus with t he Spanish-Engl ish Wor d Lookup


You can replace NEOs thesaurus with a Spanish-English word lookup if you
dont plan to use the thesaurus. In the Spanish-English Word Lookup, you
type in Spanish words to find their English equivalents.
Note: You cant have both the English thesaurus and the Spanish-English
word lookup installed on a NEO. You must choose one.
To find out how to
use the SpanishEnglish word
lookup, see page 39.

If you decide to replace the thesaurus on your NEO with the Spanish-English
word lookup, you can use NEO Manager to do this. Follow these steps:
1. Start NEO Manager on your computer (see page 14) and connect your
NEO (see page 8).
2. In NEO Manager, click the File menu and choose New Send List.
3. Click the SmartApplets tab.

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Using the Thesaurus or the Spanish-English Word Lookup

4. Click Thesaurus Spanish in the Install List A, then click Add =>.

5. Click the Send List and verify that Thesaurus Spanish to English
appears in the SmartApplets section of the list.

6. If you have a SmartOption Mobile Lab and you want to send the changes
to some, but not all, of the NEOs, click Select Devices, check the devices
that you want to send the change to, and then click OK. (To send to all
connected NEOs, skip this step.)
7. Click Send. If you have set a send list password (see page 194), you must
enter the password and click OK.
NEO Manager will remove the thesaurus and install the word lookup.

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Using the Spani sh-Engli sh Word Lookup


Once youve installed the word lookup, follow the steps below to type a
Spanish word and find its English equivalent.
1. In AlphaWord Plus, press ctrl-T to open the word lookup (labeled
Thesaurus).
2. Type the Spanish word you want to look up and press enter.

3. Use the arrow keys to select the category of words you want to look up
and press enter.

4. Use the arrow keys to select the English word you want to use and press
enter.
If you dont see the word you want, you can do one of the following:

move the cursor next to the best choice you see and press L to look
up synonyms of this word, or

press C to return to the category list.

5. If you chose to use a word, move the cursor to choose one of these
options and press enter:

Replace the original word in your file.

Copy the word you chose to the clipboard so you can paste it
elsewhere.

Do a new search for the word you selected.

6. Depending on what you chose, you will either return to your file or to the
word lookup.

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Using Linked Files

Using Linked Files


Each AlphaWord Plus file can have a linked file, that is, a file connected to the
main file.
A linked file is a place to store information related to a file. For example, you
could create a linked file with an outline of what you plan to write, a checklist
of tasks, vocabulary words, or rubric information for an assignment. Teachers
can use them to include guidelines for writing assignments.
A linked file is read-only. You cant create or edit linked files in AlphaWord
Plus. You create them on your computer by enclosing the text within <form>
tags, and then send them to NEOs using NEO Manager (see page 41).
On your NEO, you can press ctrl-L to switch between the file you can write in
and the linked file.
Heres an example of a simple linked file that lists vocabulary words. In this
example, the linked file includes the vocabulary words and instructions for an
assignment, and the student can write sentences with the vocabulary words
in the main file.
How the linked file looks
in NEO Manager (The text inside
the <FORM> tags will be in the
linked file.)

Text in the linked


file after it is sent to
the NEO

Main file in
the NEO

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Sending a Linked Fi le to NEOs


1. Start NEO Manager on your computer (see page 14) and connect your
NEO (see page 8).
2. Click the AlphaWord Files to Send tab.
3. In the file list on the left, click the file number that you want to send to on
the NEO(s) A.

You can also click


the Linked Files
button, type the text
for the linked file in the
<form> tags that have been
entered for you in the new
window, and then click OK
to come back to the main
window. See page 65.

4. In the File # window B, type the text for the linked file. All text that you
want in the linked file should be inside <form> and </form> tags as shown
above. If you want to send any text into the main AlphaWord Plus file (not
the linked file), insert it before or after the <form> tags.
In your linked file, you can use the tags below to insert check boxes,
specify a preformatted section, and control line breaks. The tags in the
table are similar to HTML tags. Most have a beginning tag enclosed in
angle brackets (<PRE>) and an end tag enclosed in angle brackets with a
forward slash (</PRE>).

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Tag

Description

<FORM>

Begin a linked file.

</FORM>

End a linked file.

[] or [ ]

Insert a check box.

<PRE>

Begin a preformatted section (use this when you want


to precisely control line breaks).

</PRE>

End a preformatted section.

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Using Linked Files

Tag

Description

<NOBR>

Begin no break text (use this to keep the text that


follows on a single line, if possible).

</NOBR>

End of no break text.

<BR>

Insert a hard return.

5. Click the Send List tab to verify that the linked file and any other text
appears as you want it C.

6. If you have a SmartOption Mobile Lab and you want to send the linked file
to some, but not all, of the NEOs, click Select Devices, check the
numbers that you want to send the file to, and then click OK. (To send to
all connected NEOs, skip this step.)
7. Click Send. If you have set a send list password (see page 194), you must
enter the password and click OK.
The linked file and any other associated text will be sent to your NEO(s).

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Vi ewing Li nked Fi les on NEOs


1. On your NEO, press the file number key for the file that has a linked file.
2. Press ctrl-L to open the linked file.
If the linked file has check boxes, you can check them by pressing the
spacebar or X, and you can clear them by pressing the spacebar or
backspace. Move forward through check boxes by pressing tab. Move
backward by pressing shift-tab.
If a linked file is long, you can use the arrow keys to scroll through it.
3. To return to the main file, press ctrl-L again or press the file key.

Ti ps for Using Linked Files


If you send a file from a NEO to your computer that has a linked file, the
main file is sent first; then, the linked file is sent with the <form> tags.
You can print the linked file text. Simply press ctrl-L to view your linked file,
then press print on your NEO. Whatever is on the screen when you press
printthe main file or the linked filewill be printed.
You can copy the text of a linked file and paste it into the main file or into
another file. To do so, view the linked file by pressing ctrl-L, then press
shift-ctrl--C. The linked file is copied to the clipboard. Next, press
ctrl-L to return to the main file, or press one of the file keys for a different
file. Then, press ctrl-V to paste the text.

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Using Linked Files

Sample Linked Files


Below is a sample of a complex linked file, shown as youd create it on your
computer and how it appears on a NEO.
An example of a linked file you
might create on your computer

Editable text that


appears in the
main file

Text and check


boxes that appear
in the linked file

Story Starter
The assignment is to write a story. Every story has
four parts: a setting, characters, a plot, and a
solution. Press ctrl-L to view the steps to complete.
Write your story in the first person and begin with
one of the phrases below.
I never noticed...
I remember...
I felt...
I saw...
<FORM>
Complete each step:
<br>
[ ] Choose a setting
[ ] Choose characters
[ ] Choose a plot
[ ] Choose a solution
</FORM>

Complete each step:


[ ] Choose a setting
[ ] Choose characters
[ ] Choose a plot
[ ] Choose a solution

The linked file on a NEO

Line break

Story Starter
The assignment is to write a story.
Every story has four parts: a setting,
characters, a plot, and a solution.
Press ctrl-L to view the steps to
complete. Write your story in the first
person and begin with one of the
phrases below.
I never noticed...
I remember...
I felt...

The connected AlphaWord


Plus file

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C h a r a c t e r , W o r d , P a r a g r aph, and Page Counts


Follow these steps to find out how many characters, words, paragraphs, and
pages are in your current file:
1. Open the file.
2. Press ctrl-W. You will see a screen like the one below, displaying statistics
for the file.
The percentage and the black bar at the bottom show you how much
more you can enter before reaching the file size limit (see page 46). For
another way to see the space remaining, see page 46.

3. Press M to see more statistics. Youll need to scroll to view all the
information.

4. Press esc to exit the screen and return to your file.

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File Size Limits

File Size Limits


About t he File Size Limit s
AlphaWord Plus has minimum and maximum file size limits:
Default minimum size: 512 characters (about a quarter of a page)
The amount of space
available is affected
by the size of data
files for your other
SmartApplets. For example,
if you have the AlphaQuiz
SmartApplet, which needs to
reserve space for quizzes, you
will have less space available
for AlphaWord Plus files.

Default maximum size: 51,200 characters (about 25 pages)


You can change these limits using the NEO Manager software; see page 185
for more information.
When an AlphaWord Plus file reaches the limit, you will see the message
shown below. You should continue in another file or send this file to your
computer as recommended.

Checking the Size and t he Number of Pages Avai labl e for One Fil e
You can see the file
size as a percentage
of the limit when you
view the character, word,
paragraph, and page counts.
See page 45.

To see how many pages youve written in a file and how much space you
have left, follow the steps below.
For the purposes of this estimate, a page is the amount of text that would
print on one piece of paper when the text is in the 12-point Times New
Roman font and double-spaced.
1. Press -i. Youll see a screen like the one below. This screen shows the
pages used and available for this file and for all files (System).

2. When youve finished, press any key to exit the screen.

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Checking the Number of Pages Writt en i n Fi les 18


If you want to see the number of pages youve written for all files on your
NEO, follow these steps:
1. Press shift--i. The screen that opens shows you the number of pages
youve written in each file. The current file is marked with *.

2. Press any key to exit the screen.

Clearing and Deleting Files


Clear all files off
NEOs on a regular
basis (perhaps once a
quarter) to prevent too many
files from being stored on the
school NEOs.

The text that you type in each file remains there until you clear or delete the
files. There is a difference between clearing a file and deleting it:
Clearing a file removes the contents of an unnamed numbered file (18). If
the file is named (see page 25), clearing the file closes it. If you clear an
unnamed file, you can recover the text if you havent entered new text yet;
see page 50.
Deleting a file completely removes both the contents of the numbered file
and the named file (if the file is named), and you cant recover any of the
data. If the file has a linked file, the linked file is deleted as well.
The table below summarizes what happens when you clear or delete each
type of file:

File Type

Pressing Clear File Does This:

Deleting the File Does This:

Unnamed open file (in one of


the eight file spaces)

Clears all text from the file, leaving


it empty. Text can be recovered.

Deletes all text from the file, leaving it


empty. Text cant be recovered.

Named, open file

Closes the file and leaves the file


space empty. You can reopen the
file later.

Deletes the file and its name and


leaves the file space empty.

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Clearing and Deleting Files

File Type

Pressing Clear File Does This:

Deleting the File Does This:

Named file that isnt open

When you view a list of files using


ctrl-F and move the cursor next to a
file, pressing clear file does this:
Clears all text from the file, leaving
it empty. Text can be recovered.
Keeps the file name, leaving an
empty, named file.

When you delete an unopened file from


a list using ctrl-D, deleting the file does
this:
Deletes the file and its name.
Returns you to the file list.

Unnamed, open file with a


linked file

Clears all text from the file. (You


can recover the text.)
Keeps the linked file intact, but
clears any check boxes in the
linked file.

Deletes all text from the file, plus the


linked file. The file will be empty. Text
cant be recovered.

Named, open file with a linked


file

Closes the named file.


Lets you choose whether to keep
the old linked file with a new,
empty file.

Deletes the file, its name, and its


linked file.

Named file with a linked file


when the file is not open

When you view a list of files using


ctrl-F and move the cursor next to a
file, pressing clear file does this:
Clears all text from the main file.
(You can recover the text.)
Keeps the file name.
Keeps the linked file text intact, but
clears check boxes.

When you delete an unopened file from


a list using ctrl-D, deleting the file does
this:
Deletes the file, its name, and its
linked file.
Returns you to the file list.

Cl eari ng a Fil e
1. Press the file key for the file you want to clear to open that file.
You can also clear a
file by pressing ctrl-F,
scrolling to the file you
want to clear, and pressing
clear file.

2. Press clear file.


3. Press Y to clear the file if you want to continue. (Otherwise, press N to
return to the file.)
Note: You can clear files only when your NEO is not connected to your
computer. If your NEO is connected to your computer, pressing clear file has
no effect.

Cl eari ng All Open Fil es (File 1File 8)


You can clear files 18 simultaneously, which can be useful if multiple users
have entered information on a NEO. This affects only the numbered files
(named or unnamed); named files that arent open in files 18 are not
affected.

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Follow these steps to clear files 18 at the same time:


1. Press shift-ctrl-option--clear file.
2. Press Y to clear all the files if you want to continue. (If not, press N to
return to the last active file.)
3. If you have named files with linked files in files 18, for each file,
AlphaWord Plus will ask whether you want to keep the linked file.
Note: If necessary, you can restore these files one at a time as long as you
havent typed new text into the files. To recover files, see page 50.

Deleti ng Fil es
Deleting a file removes everything: its contents, its name (if it is a named file),
and its linked file (if it has one). You can delete a single file, or you can delete
all files on the NEO, including named files. You cant recover data from a file
that has been deleted.

Deleting the Open File


1. Open the file you want to delete.
2. Press option--clear file.
3. Press Y to delete the file permanently if you want to continue. (If not,
press N to return to the file.)

Deleting a File from a List of Files


1. From within any file, press ctrl-D. A list of files appears.
2. Move the cursor next to the file you want to delete.
3. Press enter.
4. Press Y to delete the file permanently if you want to continue. (If not,
press N to cancel.) NEO returns you to the active file space.

Deleting All Files


1. From within any file, press ctrl-option--clear file.
2. Press Y to permanently delete all the files (including named files not in
files 18). If you dont want to do this, press N to return to the file without
deleting files.

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Recovering Files

Recovering Files
If you clear a file, and you havent deleted the file or entered new text in the
file space, you may be able to recover text youve cleared by following these
steps:
1. Make sure youre in the file number that the file you want to recover was
open in. The screen appears blank.
2. Press option--R.
3. The file should reappear onscreen. If it doesnt, you can try an emergency
recovery, which may place garbage characters in your file that you need
to remove. Follow these steps:
a. Press shift-ctrl-option--R. Your file should reappear, possibly along
with a quantity of garbage characters.
b. Scroll to the location where the garbage characters begin and press
shift-end to select from the cursor to the end of the file; then, press
delete.

Using the Typing Timer


The Typing Timer helps you evaluate your typing proficiency by measuring
the elapsed time and words per minute (WPM). Note that the final WPM
result doesnt subtract for errors made while typing.
When you use the typing timer, there are some restrictions:
NEO also includes
the KeyWords
SmartApplet, which
you can use to learn typing
skills or to teach your
students. For more about this
SmartApplet, see page 114.

You cant delete characters so that you can see any mistakes you made
when you finish.
Pressing backspace has no effect while you use the Typing Timer.
You can edit the text you type after turning off the Typing Timer.
Follow these steps to use the Typing Timer:
1. Choose where you want to start the typing timer. You can start in an
empty file or clear the current file so it is empty. If you want to use a file
that already has text in it, place the cursor where you want to start the
Typing Timer.

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2. Press -find. You will see this message:

3. Start typing. The elapsed time will appear as you type.


4. Press caps lock to stop. The elapsed time and words per minute will be
shown.

5. If you want to start the timer again, press enter.


If you want to exit the timer, press esc.

Using NEO Manager to View, Print, and Save Files


Retri evi ng Fil es from Connected NEOs
You can use the NEO Manager software to get the numbered files (18) from
all connected NEOs. You can then view the files, print them, or save them as
separate text files.

If you are using a


SmartOption Mobile
Lab, you may have as
many as 30 NEOs connected
to your computer. This means
you could be retrieving as
many as 240 files (8 files for
each of the 30 NEOs).
Typically, you should allow 10
45 minutes to save or print
files from 30 NEOs.

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NEO Manager retrieves files 18 from NEOs. It doesnt retrieve named files
that arent open in files 18. If you want to retrieve a named file, make sure
you open it on the NEO.
If you retrieve a file that has a linked file associated with it, you retrieve the
linked file text as well. When you view, print, or save the file, the linked file text
is added to the end of the main file. For more about linked files, see page 40.
Follow these steps to retrieve files from your connected NEOs:
1. In NEO Manager, click the Get/Print AlphaWord Files tab.
If you have just one NEO connected, youll see NEO USB in the File
Contents list as shown on the next page. If you connect an entire
SmartOption Mobile Lab, the connected NEOs will be listed by number.

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Using NEO Manager to View, Print, and Save Files

2. If you have one NEO connected, in the File Contents area, click the +
(Windows) or (Macintosh) next to NEO USB A. A message appears
briefly to tell you that NEO Manager is retrieving the file(s).

If you have more than one NEO connected, use the Sort by drop-down
list B to choose whether to sort by File Number or Device (NEO).
If you sort by file number, you can click the + (Windows) or (Macintosh)
next to the file number you want to view for multiple NEOs C.

B
C

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If you sort by Device (by NEO), click the + or next to the NEO for which
you want to view files D. The NEO numbers match the cable numbers in
your cart.

Vi ewing the Fi les


1. Click the displayed file text to select the file you want to view A.

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Using NEO Manager to View, Print, and Save Files

2. Click View File B to see the selected file. The file appears in its own
window. You can save the file from here, or click Close to close the
window and return to NEO Manager.

Printing Fi les
1. Check the files that you want to print in the File Contents list A.
If you print a file that
has a linked file
attached, the linked
file prints on a separate page.

2. Click Print Files B. A print dialog box appears.

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3. For Macintosh computers only, make sure NEO Manager C is selected in


the third drop-down list. This ensures that the dialog box displays the NEO
Manager print options shown below.

4. Choose a printer to send the files to D.


Windows

Macintosh

G
H
D
E

G
H

5. Use the Print drop-down list to choose the files you want to print E:

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All Files. Prints all eight files from your NEO.

Checked Items. Prints only the files you checked.

File #. Prints only that numbered file.

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Using NEO Manager to View, Print, and Save Files

6. If you have more than one NEO connected, use the From drop-down list
to choose which NEOs to print from F:

All devices. Prints the file(s) you chose from all connected NEOs.

NEO #. Prints the files from the NEO connected at this numbered
cable in the SmartOption Mobile Lab.

NEO USB. Prints from the NEO connected via a USB cable. (This is
the only option available if only one NEO is connected.)

7. Click one of the header options G:

Print header information on first page. Prints the NEO number (or
NEO USB) and the file number on the first page only.

Print header information on all pages. Prints the NEO number (or
NEO USB), the file number, and the page number on all pages.

Do not print header information. Omits header information from all


pages.

8. Check the box if you want empty files to print as a blank page H. This
provides a useful visual cue if youre printing several files from multiple
NEOs.
9. Click Print.

Saving Fi les
You can use NEO Manager to save any of the numbered files (18) that you
retrieved from your NEO(s). Files are saved in their own folders as text files.

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Where Files Are Saved


If you have connected just one NEO using the USB cable, all files will be
saved in a folder named NEO USB.
AlphaWord Plus files saved on a Windows computer

AlphaWord Plus files saved on a Macintosh

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Using NEO Manager to View, Print, and Save Files

If youve connected a SmartOption Mobile Lab, you will see a folder for each
file number. Within that folder, you will see that file number for each
connected NEO.
Saved files on a Windows computer

When working with


multiple NEOs,
consider numbering
them 130 and assigning
students a specific number
to use throughout the
session. When students are
finished working with the
NEOs, be sure to connect
each students NEO to the
appropriate number in the
SmartOption Mobile Lab.
When you retrieve and save
files, this will help you identify
the files from each student.

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Saved files on a Macintosh

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How to Save the Files


1. Check the files that you want to save in the File Contents list A.

2. Click Save Files B. A dialog box opens.

C
D

3. On Windows computers, click Browse C and go to the location where


you want to save the files. On Macintosh computers, navigate to the
location where you want to save the files.
4. Click the Save drop-down list D and choose one of these options:

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All Files. Saves all eight files from your NEO(s).

Checked Items. Saves only the files you checked in step 1.

File #. Saves only that numbered file.

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Sending (Beaming) Files to Other NEOs

5. If you have more than one NEO connected, click the From drop-down list
and choose the NEO(s) to save files from.
6. Click Save (Windows) or Choose (Macintosh). The file(s) are saved as
text files in the location you specified, either in the NEO USB folder or
separate folders for each file number. If that location already has files that
were previously saved, you may be asked if you want to replace the files.

Sending (Beaming) Fi l e s t o O th e r N EO s
You can also use the
Send and Receive
options in the
Beamer SmartApplet itself,
but it is faster to send files
from within AlphaWord Plus.
For more information about
beaming and the Beamer
SmartApplet, see page 200.

If there is text in the


clipboard of the NEO
thats receiving a
file, NEO will ask if you want
to overwrite the clipboard with
the file youre receiving. To
continue and allow the
clipboard to be overwritten,
press enter.

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When you have the Beamer SmartApplet on your NEO, you can beam files
from one NEO to another right within AlphaWord Plus. You dont need to open
the Beamer SmartApplet to send and receive files. Follow these steps:
1. Move your NEOs close to each other and aim their infrared ports A at
each other as shown.

2. The sender should open the file he or she wants to send and press ctrlsend.
3. The receiver should open the file space that he or she wants to receive
the text into and press ctrl-B.
4. If the file that the receiver chose was not empty, a message will ask if you
want to overwrite it or append to it (that is, add the beamed text to the end
of the file). Move your cursor next to an option and press enter.

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Sending Files to Supported Web-Based Programs Using NEO 2

Sending Files to Supported Web-Based Programs Using


NEO 2
If you have a Renaissance Receiver, you can also send your AlphaWord Plus
files to supported programs such as Google Docs for NEO 2, and you can
retrieve documents from those programs into one of your NEO 2 files.
Note: Wireless File Transfer must be installed on your NEO 2. If you receive a
message that it is not installed or has been disabled, see page 211.

Sending Files from NEO 2 to Supported Programs


1. First, check the following:

If the file that you


send has a linked
file, in the program
you are sending to, the linked
file will be added to the end of
the main document. <FORM>
tags will appear around the
linked file text.

If you have already


sent a file to the
supported program
since you last turned NEO 2
on, it will skip steps 46.

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Make sure your Renaissance Receiver is connected to a computer


that is currently connected to the Internet. (To connect the Receiver,
see page 18.)

Make sure you know the Receiver/Network name. (To name the
Renaissance Receiver/computer combination, see page 19.)

2. On your NEO 2, open the file that you want to send.


3. Press cmd-send.
4. NEO 2 will search for your network (Receiver) and do one of two things:

If the NEO 2 finds that you have connected to a Receiver before, it will
ask if you want to stay connected to that network. Press Y for yes and
then enter.

If the NEO 2 does not find a previous connection, the screen will list
the available Receivers. Press until you have highlighted your
Receiver name; then, press enter.

5. If more than one supported program is available, you will see a list. Use
the arrow keys to highlight the program you want to use; then, press
enter.
6. NEO 2 will connect to the supported program through your computer. If
the program requires you to log in, you will be asked to enter the email
address and password. Enter the email address and press enter. Then
enter your password and press enter again.

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Sending Files to Supported Web-Based Programs Using NEO 2

By saving files as a
new document,
students can keep
multiple drafts of their work
in the supported program.
This can be helpful if you
require your students to show
multiple revisions of their
writing.

7. If you already have files in the supported program, you will see two
options. Use the arrow keys to highlight the option you prefer and press
enter. Then, follow the instructions for the options you chose:

If you chose to save the file as a new document in the program, enter
a name for the new file and press enter.

If you chose to replace a file that you already have in the program, use
the arrow keys to highlight the name of the file you want to replace and
press enter.

8. The file will be copied to the program. When NEO 2 has finished sending
(copying) the file, it will notify you. Press enter. You will go back to the file
you have sent.

Retrieving Files from Supported Programs and Copying Them to NEO 2


1. First, check the following:

Make sure your Renaissance Receiver is connected to a computer


that is currently connected to the Internet. (To connect the Receiver,
see page 18.)

Make sure you know the Receiver/Network name. (To name the
Renaissance Receiver/computer combination, see page 19.)

2. On NEO 2, press one of the file keys to open the file space that you want
to retrieve the file into.
3. Press cmd-O.
4. If the file that you opened on NEO 2 is not empty, NEO 2 will ask if you
want to keep the current file.

If you want to keep current file, press Y. Then, enter a name for the file
and press enter. The file will be closed, but you can open it again
later.

If you do not want to keep the file, press N.

5. NEO 2 will search for your network (Receiver) and do one of two things:

If you have already


sent a file to a
supported program
since you last turned NEO 2
on, it will skip steps 57.

If the NEO 2 finds that you have connected to a Receiver before, it will
ask if you want to stay connected to that network. Press Y for yes and
then enter.

If NEO 2 does not find a previous connection, the screen will list the
available Receivers. Press until you have highlighted your Receiver
name; then, press enter.

6. If more than one supported program is available, you will see a list. Use
the arrow keys to highlight the program you want to use; then, press
enter.

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Using NEO Manager to Send Files, Rubrics, or Lessons to NEO Files

7. NEO 2 will connect to the program through your computer. If the program
requires you to log in, you will be asked to enter the email address and
password. Enter the email address and press enter. Then enter your
password and press enter again.

8. The next screen will list the files found in the supported program. Use the
arrow keys to highlight the file that you want to copy to your NEO 2. Then,
press enter.

Comments that were


inserted in the
document within
Google Docs will appear in
square brackets [ ] in the
document on NEO 2.

9. The file will be copied from the program to the file space you opened on
NEO 2. When NEO 2 has finished copying the file, it will open it.

Using NEO Manager to Send Files, Rubrics, or Lessons


to NEO Files
In NEO Manager, you can send text files to NEOs. You can also create or
select linked files or assignment rubrics to send, or you can select Write On!
lessons to send to your NEOs.
Warning! When you send a file to NEOs, let NEO Manager finish sending it
before disconnecting the NEOs from your computer. If you dont, you could
corrupt system files on your NEOs.

Creating and Sending Fi les to NEOs


NEO Manager can send files youve created on your computer to your NEOs.
You can compose text in another program and paste or drag it into NEO
Manager, or you can type text directly into NEO Manager.

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Using NEO Manager to Send Files, Rubrics, or Lessons to NEO Files

If your computer is connected to a group of NEOs in a SmartOption Mobile


Lab, you can send the files to all connected NEOs or just specific NEOs that
you select.
Follow these steps to send a file to NEOs:
1. Start NEO Manager on your computer (see page 14) and connect your
NEO (see page 8) or the SmartOption Mobile Lab.
2. In NEO Manager, click the AlphaWord Files to Send tab.
You can send empty
files to your NEOs to
overwrite existing
files. This is a handy way to
remove all text from files 18
on your NEOs. If you want to
delete all files from the NEOs,
including named files that
arent open in files 18, its
better to use the Delete All
Files setting in the NEO
Manager AlphaWord Plus
settings; see page 185.

3. Check the number of the file where you want to send text A. Note that
any existing text in that file number on the NEOs will be overwritten.
4. In the File # area B, type the text you want to transfer, or paste or drag
the text from another program.

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You can send


multiple files
simultaneously. To
do this, repeat steps 34 until
youre ready to send; then,
review the Send List tab to
make sure all the files appear
before clicking Send.

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Using NEO Manager to Send Files, Rubrics, or Lessons to NEO Files

5. Click the Send List tab C and verify that the text you want to send
appears in the list.

6. If you are using a SmartOption Mobile Lab and you want to send the text
to some, but not all, of the NEOs, click Select Devices D. Check the
devices that you want to send the text to, then click OK. (To send to all
connected NEOs, skip this step.)
7. Click Send. If you have set a send list password (see page 194), you must
enter the password and click OK.

Sendi ng Rubrics or Other Li nked Fi les to NEOs

For more about


linked files, see
page 40.

NEO Manager can also send assignment rubrics or other linked files to
NEOs. You can create your own linked file to send, open a text file that you
want to link, or select one of the sample linked files. The text will be linked to
the file that you send it to on the NEO; it wont be in the main file.
Follow these steps to send a rubric or another linked file to NEOs:
1. Start NEO Manager on your computer (see page 14) and connect your
NEO (see page 8) or the SmartOption Mobile Lab.
2. In NEO Manager, click the AlphaWord Files to Send tab.

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Using NEO Manager to Send Files, Rubrics, or Lessons to NEO Files

3. Check the number of each file where you want to send the rubric A.
(Note that if there is existing text in that file on the NEOs, that text will be
removed.)

Tips for using rubrics:


Encourage students to
use their prewriting to
type a rough draft before
presenting them with a rubric.
This encourages students to
use keyboarding skills to
actually revise instead of
looking for typos.
Consider incorporating
requirements that are
commensurate with current
grammar lessons.

4. Click Linked Files B at the bottom of the window.


5. Now, you can create a linked file, select a sample one, or open a file that
contains the text that you want to make a linked file:
Any text that is
outside the <form>
</form> tags will be
in the file space itself, not in
the linked file.

To create your own linked file, type the text between the <form> and
</form> tags in the window C. If you want to insert a check box, click
Insert a checkbox D and change the text that is inserted behind the
box. If you want to save the linked file to use again, click Save As E
and save it as a text file in the location you select. When the linked file
is done, click OK. The text will be shown in the File # area of the
AlphaWord Files to Send tab.

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The sample linked
files are also
available in NEO

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Using NEO Manager to Send Files, Rubrics, or Lessons to NEO Files

To select a sample linked file, use the drop-down list F. When you
select one of these files, the text will appear in the window G, and you
can change it as needed. Then, click OK. The text will be shown in the
File # area of the AlphaWord Files to Send tab.

Share.

G
F

To open a text file that you want to make a linked file, click Open

H and find and select the text file. Then, click Open. Click OK in the
Linked Files window to select the file youve opened. The text will be
shown in the File # area of the AlphaWord Files to Send tab.

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Using NEO Manager to Send Files, Rubrics, or Lessons to NEO Files

You can transfer


multiple rubrics
simultaneously. To
do this, repeat steps 35 until
youre ready to send; then,
review the Send List tab to
make sure all the files appear
before clicking Send.

6. Click the Send List tab and verify that the text you want to send appears
in the list.

7. If you are using a SmartOption Mobile Lab and you want to send the
linked file to some, but not all, of the NEOs, click Select Devices. Check
the NEOs that you want to send the text to, then click OK. (To send to all
connected NEOs, skip this step.)
8. Click Send. If you have set a send list password (see page 194), you must
enter the password and click OK.

Sending Write On! Lessons to NEOs


NEO Manager can also send Write On! lessons to NEOs. Write On! lessons
include writing lessons, literacy skills activities, and vocabulary strategies. For
more about Write On! lessons, see page 240.
Follow these steps to send lessons to NEOs:
You can also use
NEO Share to send
Write On! lessons to
NEO 2s. For more
information, click the Help
menu in NEO Share and
choose Using Write On!
Lessons. If you dont have
NEO Share, see page 21 for
more information.

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1. Start NEO Manager on your computer (see page 14) and connect your
NEO (see page 8) or the SmartOption Mobile Lab.
2. Click the AlphaWord Files to Send tab.

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Using NEO Manager to Send Files, Rubrics, or Lessons to NEO Files

3. Check the number of the file where you want to send the lesson A. (Note
that any existing text in that file on the NEOs will be overwritten.)

4. Click WriteOn Lessons B at the bottom of the window. If the file you
have chosen already has text, an alert will appear to remind you that the
text will be replaced; click Yes to continue.
You can make your
own Write On!
lessons. To do this,
create a new folder for the
lessons. Then, create text files
that contain each of your
writing prompts or writing
lessons. Save each file with a
.txt extension. When youve
finished, move the folder into
the Write On Text Files folder.
(In Windows, the folder is
Program Files\Renaissance
Learning\. On Macintosh
computers, the folder is
Applications : AlphaSmart :
AlphaSmart Manager 2.

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5. Double-click one of the categories on the left C to find the available


lessons, or click the category and click Next. You may need to open a few
different subcategories before you see a list of lessons. You can click
Back to back up one category level.

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Using NEO Manager to Send Files, Rubrics, or Lessons to NEO Files

6. Click the lesson you want to select D and view the text in the Preview
area E. You can continue to click the lesson files until you find the one
you want to use; then, click Insert F. The lesson text will be shown in the
File # area of the AlphaWord Files to Send tab.

E
D

F
You can transfer
multiple lessons
simultaneously. To
do this, repeat steps 27 until
youre ready to send; then,
review the Send List tab to
make sure all the files appear
before clicking Send.

7. Read through the lesson. You can make changes if youd like. Since the
lesson includes instruction, examples, and many writing prompts,
teachers generally divide the lesson among several files. (The lines made
up of = signs are natural places to break the file.) To break up the file, you
can cut some of the text from this file, click another file number, and paste
the text into that file. When you do this, students will see different parts of
the lesson in the different files you send to NEOs.
8. Click the Send List tab and verify that the lesson you want to send
appears in the list.

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About File Passwords

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9. If you are using a SmartOption Mobile Lab and you want to send the
lesson to some, but not all, of the NEOs, click Select Devices. Check the
NEOs that you want to send the lesson to, then click OK. (To send to all
connected NEOs, skip this step.)
10. Click Send. If you have set a send list password (see page 194), you must
enter the password and click OK.

About File Passwords


There are three
types of passwords
for NEOs and NEO
Manager: file passwords, the
master password, and the
send list password. For more
information, see page 168.

If you enable password protection for your NEO(s), you can set a password
for each file. Then, any time you press a file key or open a named file, you
must enter the files password or the master password.
The following sections explain how to enable password protection, set a
password for a file, and reset all file passwords.

Enabl ing Passwor d Protection Whil e Wor ki ng i n a File


You can also enable
or disable file
passwords in the
Control Panel (see page 173)
or using NEO Manager (see
page 185).

You will need the NEOs master password to enable password protection. You
can set that password using the System settings in NEO Manager (see
page 168) or contact Technical Support to get the default master password.
1. Be sure you know your master password (see page 168 to set the master
password using the System settings in NEO Manager).
2. Press ctrl-option--P. A message will tell you whether password
protection is on or off.

3. To change the setting, type the master password and press enter. A
message will tell you what the setting has been changed to.
4. Press any key to exit the screen. All AlphaWord Plus files will have the
password write until you change the password for each file (see the next
section).

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About File Passwords

Changing a Fi les Passwor d Whil e Worki ng i n the Fil e


You can also change
each files password
in the Control Panel;
see page 173. In NEO
Manager, you can set the
same password for all files
(see page 185), but you cant
set a unique password for
each file.

When you first enable password protection for AlphaWord Plus files, all files
have the same default password: write (unless youve changed the default in
NEO Managersee page 185).
If you want to give each file a unique password instead, follow the steps
below. File passwords can be up to six characters long. They arent casesensitive. They can contain letters, numbers, symbols, and spaces. If you
dont know an individual files password, you can enter the NEOs master
password instead. (To set the master password, see page 168.)
Follow these steps to change a files password within AlphaWord Plus:
1. Open the file for which you want to change the password. You need to
enter the current password to open it. If youve never changed the
password, enter the default password (write), or enter the master
password.
2. Press option--P. You will see a screen like the one below.

You can use the


same password for
every file if you
name your file before you
change the password.

3. Type the current file password. Press tab and type your new password;
then, press tab and type it again to confirm it.
4. Press enter. A message will tell you that the password has been
changed; then, youll return to your file.

Resetting Fi le Passwords
If you forget file passwords, you can reset the passwords for all AlphaWord
Plus files on this NEO back to the default password (write or the default
password you chose in NEO Manager).
The steps below tell you how to reset all file passwords on the NEO. You can
also reset them from the Control Panel (see page 173) or in NEO Manager
(see page 185).
You need the master
password to reset
file passwords. Use
the System settings in NEO
Manager to set this password;
see page 168.

72

1. With an AlphaWord Plus file open, press shift-ctrl-option--P.


2. Type the master password and press enter. A message will notify you that
the passwords have been reset to the factory default (write).
3. Press any key to exit the screen.

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Using a NEO Text2Speech Device to Read AlphaWord Plus Files Aloud

Using a NEO Text2Speech Device to Read AlphaWord


Plus Files Aloud
If you have an optional NEO Text2Speech device from Renaissance
Learning, the device can read aloud the text you write in AlphaWord Plus. To
turn the device on or off or to change options such as the speed or volume,
press ctrl-J.
For more information, refer to the NEO Text2Speech User Manual, which you
received with the device.

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S MART A PPLETS
What Are SmartApplets?
SmartApplets are the programs installed on your NEO. AlphaWord Plusthe
program you use to write on the NEOis just one of the available
SmartApplets.

Installed SmartApplets
By default, NEOs come with these SmartApplets installed:

SmartApplet

Where to Find More Information

Responder

Page 84

AlphaWord Plus

Page 22

Accelerated Reader

Page 93

KeyWords Wireless

Page 114

MathFacts in a Flash RP

Page 100

MathFacts in a Flash (offline)

Page 105

Control Panel

Page 171

Beamer

Page 200

Calculator

Page 205

AlphaQuiz (can be installed using NEO


Manager)

See the instructions on the NEO


Documentation CD.

To see a list of the installed SmartApplets, press applets. To choose the one
you want to use, press the arrow keys to move the cursor next to that
SmartApplet; then, press enter.

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S MARTAPPLETS
Managing the SmartApplets on Your NEO

An additional SmartApplet, Co:Writer, is available from Don Johnston, Inc. If


you purchase this SmartApplet and it was not already installed when you
received your NEOs, be sure to follow the installation instructions provided by
Don Johnston, Inc.

Managing the SmartApplets on Your NEO


The easiest way to manage SmartApplets is to use NEO Manager. In NEO
Manager, you can do the following:
Change the startup SmartApplet (the one that starts automatically when
you start a NEO). See the instructions below.
Disable SmartApplets on your NEOs (see page 77).
Install new or updated SmartApplets on the connected NEOs (see
page 78).
Change SmartApplet settings on NEOs (see page 80).
Remove SmartApplets from the connected NEOs (see page 80).
View SmartApplet information (see page 82).
Add SmartApplets to the list available in NEO Manager (see page 83).
You can also perform some of these tasks on the NEO itself. For example,
from the SmartApplets menu, you can change the SmartApplet that starts
when you start the NEO, and you can disable SmartApplets (see page 77).

Changing the Startup SmartApplet


If you dont set a
startup
SmartApplet, when
you turn on your NEO, it goes
to the SmartApplets list, with
the cursor next to the
SmartApplet you were
working in the last time you
turned the NEO off.

The startup SmartApplet is the one that starts automatically when you turn on
a NEO. AlphaWord Plus is the startup SmartApplet when you first receive
your NEOs. You can change the startup SmartApplet on the NEO itself (see
the steps below) or using the NEO Manager software (see page 76).

Changing the Startup Smart Applet on t he NEO It self


1. Press applets.
2. Use the arrow keys to move the cursor next to the SmartApplet that you
want to start when you turn on your NEO.
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SMARTAPPLETS
Changing the Startup SmartApplet

3. Press ctrl-applets. An asterisk designating the startup SmartApplet


appears in the menu.

Repeat the steps to remove the asterisk or to choose a different startup


SmartApplet.

Changing the Startup Smart Applet for One or More NEOs Using NEO
Manager
1. Start NEO Manager on your computer (see page 14) and connect your
NEO (see page 8) or the SmartOption Mobile Lab.
2. In NEO Manager, click the Settings tab.
3. Click System in the settings list on the left A.
4. In the list of system settings on the right, click the drop-down list next to
Startup SmartApplet B and choose the SmartApplet that you want to
start when the NEO(s) are turned on. When you do this, the box for the
setting will automatically be checked.

5. Click the Send List tab and verify that your system setting change
appears in the send list.

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S MARTAPPLETS
Disabling and Re-Enabling SmartApplets

6. If you are using a SmartOption Mobile Lab and you want to send the
setting change to some, but not all, of the NEOs, click Select Devices.
Check the numbers to which you want to send the change, then click OK.
(To send to all connected NEOs, skip this step.)
7. Click Send. If you have set a send list password (see page 194), you must
enter that password and click OK.

Disabling and Re-Enabling SmartApplets


You can disable a SmartApplet on NEOs. When you do this, the
SmartApplets cant be used, but they are still installed on your NEOs, and you
can enable them again later.
To disable or re-enable SmartApplets, you can use the SmartApplet menu on
a single NEO, or you can use the NEO Manager software to disable the
SmartApplet on one or more NEOs.

Di sabling or Re-Enabling a SmartApplet on a Single NEO


1. Press applets.
You need the master
password to disable
SmartApplets. You
can use the System settings in
NEO Manager to set this
password (see page 168) or
contact Technical Support to
get the default master
password.

2. Move the cursor next to the SmartApplet you want to disable.


3. Press ctrl--L.
4. Enter the master password and press enter. The
to the SmartApplet to show it has been disabled.

symbol appears next

5. Repeat these steps to enable the SmartApplet.


Note: If you want to disable the Calculator SmartApplet, from within
AlphaWord Plus press ctrl--C and then enter the master password.

Di sabling or Re-Enabling SmartApplets for One or More NEOs Using NEO


Manager
1. Start NEO Manager on your computer (see page 14) and connect your
NEO (see page 8) or the SmartOption Mobile Lab.
2. In NEO Manager, click the Settings tab.

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SMARTAPPLETS
Installing or Updating SmartApplets on NEOs Using NEO Manager

3. On the left, click the SmartApplet that you want to disable or enable on
your NEO(s) A.

B
A

4. On the right, after the Disable this SmartApplet setting, click Yes B.
The box will be checked. (To enable the SmartApplet again, click No.)
5. Click the Send List tab and verify that your setting change is in the list.
6. If you have a SmartOption Mobile Lab and you want to send the setting
change to some, but not all, of the NEOs, click Select Devices. Check the
boxes for the NEOs that you want to send the changes to, and click OK.
(To send to all connected NEOs, skip this step.)
7. Click Send. If you have set a send list password (see page 194), you must
enter the password and click OK.

Installing or Updating Smar tApplets on NEOs Using NEO


Manager
You can install new SmartApplets, update SmartApplets, or reinstall
SmartApplets that youve removed. To do this, you install a SmartApplet on
your computer, then select it and send it to your NEO(s) using NEO Manager.
For more information about available SmartApplets, visit our website.

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S MARTAPPLETS
Installing or Updating SmartApplets on NEOs Using NEO Manager

Follow these steps to install SmartApplets on NEOs:


1. If you have a new SmartApplet that isnt already available to install in NEO
Manager, see Adding SmartApplets to the List in NEO Manager on
page 83.
2. Start NEO Manager on your computer (see page 14).
3. Connect your NEO (see page 8) or the SmartOption Mobile Lab.
4. In NEO Manager, click the SmartApplets tab if it is not already selected.
If you dont see the
SmartApplet you
want to install in the
list, and you know you
installed it on your computer,
see page 83 to add it to the
list.

Not everything in the


SmartApplet list is a
SmartApplet. The list
includes your NEO fonts, spell
check, the Thesaurus, the
Spanish-English word lookup,
Text2Speech Updater for NEO
Text2Speech devices, and
Wireless File Transfer. You
can install and delete these
items just as you would
SmartApplets.

5. There are two ways to choose the SmartApplets you want to install on
NEOs:

Click a SmartApplet in the SmartApplet List A and drag it to the


Install List B.

Select the SmartApplet(s) in the SmartApplet List A; then click


Add => to move them to the Install List B. To select more than one
SmartApplet to add, do one of the following:

To select a group of SmartApplets, click the first one in the group,


hold down the Shift key, and click the last one in the group.

To select SmartApplets individually, hold down the Ctrl key


(Windows) or the key (Macintosh) as you click the SmartApplets
you want to add.

As you add SmartApplets to the Install List, check the Memory column C
to make sure there is enough memory available on the NEOs to install the
SmartApplets you want. The darker color shows the space used on the
NEO, and the lighter color shows what is needed by the SmartApplet(s)
you want to install. If you dont have enough memory to install the

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SMARTAPPLETS
Choosing SmartApplet Settings

SmartApplets you want, you could delete some SmartApplets from NEOs
as described on page 80.
6. Click the Send List tab and verify that the SmartApplets you want to
install appear in the list.

7. If you have a SmartOption Mobile Lab and you want to send the
SmartApplets to some, but not all, of the NEOs, click Select Devices.
Check the box for each NEO that you want to send the SmartApplets to,
and click OK. (To send to all connected NEOs, skip this step.)
8. Click Send. If you have set a send list password (see page 194), you must
enter the password and click OK.

Choosing SmartApplet Settings


Many SmartApplets have their own settings, and the NEO itself has system
settings. You can change the settings in the NEO Control Panel (see
page 171) or in NEO Manager (see page 184).

Deleting SmartApplets from NEOs Using NEO Manager


Normally, it is better to disable SmartApplets (see page 77) instead of
removing them so that you dont need to take the time to install the
SmartApplets again later. (Installing some SmartApplets on several NEOs
can take some time.)
However, you might want to remove SmartApplets to free up memory or
because youre beginning a new session or activity in a class.

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S MARTAPPLETS
Deleting SmartApplets from NEOs Using NEO Manager

To remove SmartApplets from your NEOs, you select the SmartApplets you
want to keep in NEO Manager. Then, you choose to delete all other
SmartApplets as described in the steps below.
Important: When you remove some SmartApplets, such as AlphaQuiz or
KeyWords, you also remove any files associated with them. For example, if
you remove KeyWords, you also remove your students KeyWords work and
progress reports. If there is KeyWords information on the NEOs that you want
to save, be sure to retrieve the data first (see page 143).
1. Start NEO Manager on your computer (see page 14) and connect your
NEO (see page 8) or the SmartOption Mobile Lab.
2. In NEO Manager, click the SmartApplets tab.
3. Click each SmartApplet you want to install or keep in the SmartApplets
List A, then click Add => to move it to the Install List B. You should add
all SmartApplets that you want on your NEOs, including those that are
already installed on the NEOs.

Be careful not to
delete nonSmartApplet items
that you want to keep. The
SmartApplet list includes the
fonts included on your NEO,
spell check, the Thesaurus,
Text2Speech Updater for NEO
Text2Speech devices, and
Wireless File Transfer (NEO 2
only) for sending files to and
from services such as Google
Docs.

NEO 2
User Manual

4. Check the box above the SmartApplet list C to specify that all
SmartApplets that are not in the Install List should be deleted from NEOs.
5. Click the Send List tab and verify that only the SmartApplets you want to
keep on your NEOs are in the Send List.
6. If you have a SmartOption Mobile Lab and you want to send the changed
SmartApplet list to some, but not all, of the NEOs, click Select Devices.
Check the boxes for the NEOs that you want to send the SmartApplets to,
and click OK. (To send to all connected NEOs, skip this step.)
7. Click Send. If you have set a send list password (see page 194), you must
enter the password and click OK.

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SMARTAPPLETS
Viewing SmartApplet Information in NEO Manager

Viewing SmartApplet Info r m a t i o n i n N E O M a n a g e r


Follow these steps to get more information about the SmartApplets that are
installed on your computer.
1. Start NEO Manager on your computer (see page 14) and connect your
NEO (see page 8) or the SmartOption Mobile Lab.
2. In NEO Manager, click the SmartApplets tab.
3. Double-click the SmartApplet for which you want information A, or click
the SmartApplet, click the File menu, and choose Get SmartApplet Info.

4. The window that appears will show you the name of the SmartApplet, the
version, the RAM and ROM size, and the copyright date. To close the
window, click OK (Windows) or Close (Macintosh).

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S MARTAPPLETS
Adding SmartApplets to the List in NEO Manager

Adding SmartApplets to the List in NEO Manager


Installi ng SmartAppl ets on Your Computer
1. If NEO Manager is open on your computer, close the program.
2. Connect your NEO (see page 8) or the SmartOption Mobile Lab.
3. Next, follow the instructions for your type of computer:
Windows computers:
a. If you download the SmartApplet from the website, you receive a .zip
file. Extract the files from this .zip file. You will see a folder with the
same name as the original .zip file. Open the folder.
b. Double-click the file that ends with .OS3KApp. NEO Manager will
open with the SmartApplets tab selected and the new SmartApplet in
the Install List. If you want to install it on NEOs, see page 78.
Macintosh computers:
a. If you download the SmartApplet from the website, double-click the file
you downloaded. If the downloaded file ends with .sit, a folder with a
similar name will appear; open the folder. If the downloaded file ends
with .dmg, the volume will open.
b. Start NEO Manager (see page 14).
c. Click the File menu and choose Add to Applet List.
d. Find and select the .OS3KApp file. Then, click Choose. You will go to
the SmartApplets tab in NEO Manager, and the new SmartApplet will
be in the Install List.

Addi ng SmartAppl ets That Have Already Been Installed


If you have installed a new or updated SmartApplet on your computer, and
you dont see it in the list of SmartApplets in NEO Manager, follow these
steps to add it to that list:
1. In NEO Manager, click the File menu and choose Add to Applet List.
2. In the dialog box that appears, find the new SmartApplet file and select it.
(The file name should end with OS3KApp.) Then, click Open (Windows)
or Choose (Macintosh).
3. The SmartApplet will be added.
If the SmartApplet is already in the list in NEO Manager, a message may
ask whether you want to replace the SmartApplet with the one youve
chosen; click Yes or No. You may also see a message that simply tells
you the SmartApplet is already in the list; click OK.

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User Manual

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R ESPONDER S MART A PPLET FOR NEO 2


NEO 2 includes a Responder SmartApplet that lets you use your NEO 2 like a
classroom response system or clicker. Students can use NEO 2 to complete
assignments for AccelTest and paper assignments for Accelerated Math RP
software. You can also use NEO 2 with the 2Know! Toolbar.
Important: You cant use NEO 2 with more than one program at a time. If you
have both AccelTest and Accelerated Math RP, or if you have the 2Know!
Toolbar and one of these programs, you should only have one of the three
programs open at a time.

Preparing to Use NEO 2 with AccelTest, Accelerated


Math RP, or the 2Know! Toolbar
Make sure you have done the following before you use NEO 2 with any of
these programs:
Connect the Renaissance Receiver to your computer (see page 18).
Assign a unique name to the Receiver/wireless network (see page 19).
Install AccelTest, the 2Know! Toolbar, or the Renaissance Responder client
program (for Accelerated Math). To install AccelTest, see the AccelTest
Software Installation Guide. To install the 2Know! Toolbar, see the NEO 2
Resource Guide. To install the Renaissance Responder client for
Accelerated Math, see the Accelerated Math Software Manual on the
Renaissance Place Manuals page.

U s in g N EO 2 t o C o m p l e t e AccelTest Assignments
NEO 2 does not
support the
homework and notes
features in AccelTest,
though you can use those
features with Renaissance
Responders. Also, NEO 2s do
not support assigned owners.

84

If you ordered a SmartOption Mobile Lab, you received AccelTest software


with your NEO 2s. When you choose Responder as the scoring method for
assignments in AccelTest, students can use their NEO 2s to complete
assignments instead of using Responders. If you choose NEO 2 Only as the
scoring method, students may only use NEO 2s. Students can use NEO 2 to
complete in-class assignments, but not homework.
For more information, see the AccelTest User Manual, which is installed with
the AccelTest software. In Windows XP, Vista, or 7, youll find the manual
under AccelTest in the Start menu; in Windows 8, press the Windows key
and Q to see all apps, then click the User Manual under AccelTest. On
Macintosh computers, youll find the manual in the AccelTest program folder.
NEO 2
User Manual

Using NEO 2 to Complete AccelTest Assignments

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R ESPONDER S MARTA PPLET FOR N E O 2

Using NEO 2 in a Student -Paced Session in AccelTest


Student-paced sessions allow students to work on anything that has been
assigned to them in the AccelTest class Gradebook except for Homework.
Students can complete these assignments without needing the teacher to
lead the session or send the questions one by one. The instructions below
explain what teachers and students need to do in order to use NEO 2 during
a student-paced session.

Teacher Preparation Steps


1. Make sure your Renaissance Receiver is connected to your computer and
that the computer is on.
2. Click the AccelTest Responder menu and choose Start Student Paced
Session.
3. Make sure students have their student ID from the AccelTest Gradebook.
(IDs are also available in the AccelTest Student ID Report.) Since NEO 2s
dont have assigned owners, the student ID is always used to identify the
student for assignments.

Steps Students Follow during a Student-Paced Session


1. Press on/off to turn NEO 2 on.
2. Press applets.
3. Make sure the cursor is next to Responder; then, press enter.
4. NEO 2 will attempt to join the session.

If you have connected to a Renaissance Receiver before, it will ask if


you want to stay connected to it; press Y for yes or N for no. Then,
press enter.

If you havent connected to a Renaissance Receiver before, the NEO


2 will show you a list of networks (Renaissance Receivers). Use the
arrow keys to highlight the one you want to connect to; then, press
enter.

5. Type your AccelTest student ID and press enter.


6. If you have only one assignment available, the program will ask if you are
ready to work on the assignment. Press Y for yes to continue; then, press
enter.
If you have more than one assignment, the program will list the
assignments you have with a letter before each assignment name. Press
the letter for the assignment you want; then, press enter.

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R ESPONDER S MAR TA PPLET FOR N E O 2


Using NEO 2 to Complete AccelTest Assignments

You may see


Sending when you
enter the answer to
each question.

7. NEO 2 will show you the first question in the assignment. Choose or type
an answer for each question; then, press enter:

For multiple-choice questions, press the letter next to the answer you
want to choose.

For true-false questions, press T for true or F for false.

For yes/no questions, press Y for yes or N for no.

For questions that ask you to enter a number, type the number and
press enter.

For short-answer questions, type the answer and press enter. Your
answer can have up to 40 characters.

Note: If the assignment is printed, it may include some questions that you
cant answer on NEO 2, such as essay questions; answer these questions
on paper.
You can answer the questions in order or use these commands to go back
or to go to a specific question:

To do this...
Scroll through a question.

...press these keys:


Press and .

Go forward or back one


question.

Press -?. Arrows ( ) will appear to the


right of the question number. As long as you
see those arrows, you can press to go back
one question or to go forward one question.
Press -? again when you want the arrow
keys to scroll through the question instead.

Go to a specific question
number.

Press find, type the question number, and


press enter.

Go to the end of the


question.
Go to the beginning of the
question.
Switch between the
question and answers in
multiple-choice questions.

Press -.
Press -.
If both the question and the answer choices
require scrolling, you can press the tab key or
the or key to switch between the
question and the answer. Then, use the and
keys to scroll up or down.

8. When youve answered all the questions, the program will ask if you are
ready to submit your work.

86

If you are, press Y for yes and press enter. When the assignment is
complete, your score may be shown; if so, press any key when youre

NEO 2
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Using NEO 2 to Complete AccelTest Assignments

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R ESPONDER S MARTA PPLET FOR N E O 2

ready to leave that screen. The NEO 2 will go back to the


SmartApplets list. If you want to work on another assignment, press
enter to choose the Responder SmartApplet again and repeat these
steps.

If you are not ready, press N for no and press enter. You will go back
to question one, and you can go through each question again to check
your answers.

Using NEO 2 in a Teacher-Paced Session in AccelTest


In AccelTest, teachers use teacher-paced sessions when they want to ask
questions of the entire class and have the class answer the questions at the
same time. The instructions below explain how to use NEO 2 during a
teacher-paced session.

Teacher Preparation Steps


1. Make sure your Renaissance Receiver is connected to your computer and
that the computer is on.
2. Click the AccelTest Responder menu and choose Start Teacher-Paced
Session.
The steps that you follow next depend on the options you choose in the
Responder Session Wizard. For detailed instructions for setting up the
session and asking the questions during the session, refer to the user manual
that was installed with your AccelTest software.

Steps Students Follow during a Teacher-Paced Session


1. Press on/off to turn NEO 2 on.
2. Press applets.
3. Once the teacher has started the session, make sure the cursor is next to
Responder; then, press enter.
4. NEO 2 will attempt to join the session.

If you have connected to a Renaissance Receiver before, it will ask if


you want to stay connected to it; press Y for yes or N for no. Then,
press enter.

If you havent connected to a Renaissance Receiver before, NEO 2


will show you a list of networks (Renaissance Receivers). Use the
arrow keys to highlight the one you want to connect to; then, press
enter.

5. Type your AccelTest student ID and press enter.

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R ESPONDER S MAR TA PPLET FOR N E O 2


Using NEO 2 to Complete Accelerated Math Assignments

For some types of


teacher-paced
sessions, youll see
the question on the NEO 2
screen. For others, you will
only see your answer choices
(not the possible answers).

6. When the teacher tells you to do so, press enter. Then, choose an answer
for the first question:

For multiple-choice questions, press the letter next to the answer you
want to choose and press enter.

For true-false questions, press T for true or F for false and press
enter.

For yes/no questions, press Y for yes or N for no and press enter.

For questions that ask you to enter a number, type the number and
press enter.

For short-answer questions, type the answer and press enter.

After you press enter, a message will tell you that your answer has been
recorded. Repeat this step for each question in the session.
7. When the teacher ends the session, the teacher will ask you to press
enter again. A message will tell you that there is no session. Leave N (no)
selected and press enter again to finish.

U s i n g N E O 2 t o C o m p l e t e Accelerated Math Assignments


Students can also use NEO 2 to complete printed/paper Accelerated Math RP
assignments. NEO 2 can be used for assisted-response (multiple-choice)
paper assignments, but not for free-response assignments, extendedresponse assignments, or online assignments.

Preparing to Use NEO 2 wi th Accel erated Mat h RP


Before students can complete Accelerated Math assignments on NEO 2, you
must do the following:
Have Accelerated Math RP version 3.1 or higher on your Renaissance
Place server.
Install NEO Manager on the teachers computer (see page 12). This will
also install or update the Renaissance Wireless Server Utility, which
enables NEO 2 and the Renaissance Receiver to communicate with
Accelerated Math RP.
Connect a Renaissance Receiver to the teachers computer (see page 18).
In the Renaissance Wireless Server Utility, name your Renaissance
Receiver network and make sure students know the name (see page 19).

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NEO 2
User Manual

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R ESPONDER S MARTA PPLET FOR N E O 2


Using NEO 2 to Complete Accelerated Math Assignments

Install the Renaissance Responder client program on the teachers


computer (see the Accelerated Math Software Manual on the Renaissance
Place Manuals page).
Students can complete printed assisted-response practices with NEO 2. If
you want them to be able to complete assisted-response paper exercises
and tests with NEO 2 as well, check the setting of the Scoring preference
for each class. (In the UK, use the Marking preference.)

Using NEO 2 with Accel erated Math RP


Teacher Preparation Steps
1. Make sure your students have printed copies of their assignments.
2. Start the Renaissance Responder program at the computer with the
Renaissance Receiver connected. Log in with your Accelerated Math RP
user name and password. (To install the program and connect it to your
Renaissance Place server, see the Accelerated Math Software Manual.)

Steps Students Follow to Complete Printed Accelerated


Math Assignments
1. Press on/off to turn NEO 2 on.
2. Press applets.
3. Make sure the cursor is next to Responder; then, press enter.
4. NEO 2 will attempt to join the session.

If you have connected to a Renaissance Receiver before, it will ask if


you want to stay connected to it; press Y for yes or N for no. Then,
press enter.

If you havent connected to a Renaissance Receiver before, NEO 2


will show you a list of networks (Renaissance Receivers). Use the
arrow keys to highlight the one you want to connect to; then, press
enter.

5. Enter the form number printed at the top of the assignment. Then, press
enter.
6. If the NEO 2 tells you to wait until your assignment is retrieved, press
enter again.
7. When the NEO 2 shows your name and form number, press Y for yes if
this information is correct; then, press enter. (If not, press N for no and
enter the form number again.)

NEO 2
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R ESPONDER S MAR TA PPLET FOR N E O 2


Using NEO 2 to Complete Accelerated Math Assignments

8. Press the letter keys (A, B, C, or D) to enter your answer to each


question. Then, press enter.
You can answer the questions in order or use these commands to go back
or to go to a specific question:

To do this...
Scroll through a question.

...press these keys:


Press and .

Go forward or back one


question.

Press -?. Arrows ( ) will appear to the


right of the question number. As long as you
see those arrows, you can press to go back
one question or to go forward one question.
Press -? again when you want the arrow
keys to scroll through the question instead.

Go to a specific question
number.

Press find, type the question number, and


press enter.

Go to the end of the


question.
Go to the beginning of the
question.

Press -.
Press -.

9. When youve answered the last problem, NEO 2 asks if youre ready to
submit your work. If you are, press Y for yes and press enter. (If youre not
ready, press N for no and press enter to go back and go through the
problems again.)
If some students
havent submitted
their work before
you end the session, youll
be asked whether you want to
score the assignments with
the answers entered so far or
to discard those answers and
allow the student to enter
answers again in the next
session. For details, see the
Accelerated Math Software
Manual.

90

10. If NEO 2 asks you to wait while your assignment is saved, press enter
again. When the assignment is done, you will be asked to get your TOPS
report at the printer. The NEO 2 will go back to the SmartApplets list.
11. When all students have finished their assignments, the teacher can click
End Session in the Renaissance Responder program at the computer
and close the program.

NEO 2
User Manual

Using NEO 2 with the 2Know! Toolbar

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R ESPONDER S MARTA PPLET FOR N E O 2

Using NEO 2 with the 2Know! Toolbar


If you have your Renaissance Receiver connected and youve installed NEO
Manager on your computer, you can also use NEO 2 with the 2Know! Toolbar.
Participants can use NEO 2 to respond to questions. Teachers or session
leaders can use it to control the toolbar program as they would use a teacher
Responder. For more information about using the 2Know! Toolbar, click the
Options button in the program and choose Getting Started.

How Participants Respond to 2Know! Toolbar Quest ions Using NEO 2


Participants follow these steps to respond to questions from the 2Know!
Toolbar:
1. Press on/off to turn NEO 2 on.
2. Press applets.
3. Make sure the cursor is next to Responder; then, press enter.
4. NEO 2 will attempt to join the session.

To help students
answer multiplechoice, true/false, or
pulse questions, you can
press ctrl-caps lock or cmdcaps lock on NEO 2 to put
the Responder SmartApplet
in bubble mode. In this
mode, when students type
AE, T, F, Y, N, R, or G,
answer bubbles appear
(similar to the ones on
Responders) to help students
see the available choices. The
SmartApplet goes back to the
standard text mode when you
press ctrl-caps lock or cmdcaps lock again, exit the
SmartApplet, or shut off the
NEO 2.

If you have connected to a Renaissance Receiver before, it will ask if


you want to stay connected to it; press Y for yes or N for no. Then,
press enter.

If you havent connected to a Renaissance Receiver before, NEO 2


will show you a list of networks (Receivers). Use the arrow keys to
highlight the one you want to connect to; then, press enter.

5. Enter your response to each question:

For multiple-choice questions, type the letter for the answer you want
to choose and press enter.

For true/false questions, type T for true or F for false and press enter.

For questions that require a number for an answer, type the number
and press enter.

For pulse questions, you can enter Y, J, T, or G for yes/true/green,


and you can enter N, F, or R for no/false/red; then, press enter.

For short-answer questions, type the answer and press enter. Your
answer can be up to 18 characters long.

The teacher will let you know when you can send your answer to each
question.
6. When youve finished answering questions, the teacher can shut down
the 2Know! Toolbar program. The next time you press enter, NEO 2 will
tell you there is no session and ask if you want to search for networks.
Press N for no and press enter to go back to the SmartApplets menu.

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R ESPONDER S MAR TA PPLET FOR N E O 2


Using NEO 2 with the 2Know! Toolbar

How Teachers Can Use NEO 2 to Control the 2Know! Tool bar Program
Teachers can use NEO 2 to control the 2Know! Toolbar program. The steps
are similar to those you would use on a Responder:
1. In the 2Know! Toolbar program,
click the Options button and
choose Teacher Responder
from the menu.
2. Click Assign in the Teacher
Responder dialog box. The
program will show you a PIN.
Leave this dialog box open.
3. Press on/off on the NEO 2 to turn it on.
4. Press applets.
5. Make sure the cursor is next to Responder; then, press enter.
6. NEO 2 will attempt to join the session.

If you have connected to a Renaissance Receiver before, it will ask if


you want to stay connected to it; press Y for yes or N for no. Then,
press enter.

If you havent connected to a Renaissance Receiver before, NEO 2


will show you a list of networks (Renaissance Receivers). Use the
arrow keys to highlight the one you want to connect to; then, press
enter.

7. When NEO 2 asks you to enter the Teacher Responder PIN, enter the
one that is shown in your 2Know! Toolbar program. Then, press enter.
8. In the 2Know! Toolbar program, click Close to go back to the toolbar.
9. NEO 2 will list your options. Press A to ask a question, B to show a graph,
or C to minimize the Toolbar on your computer or maximize it again; then,
press enter.
Once you choose to view a graph, you can press A to stop receiving
responses, B to close the graph, C to reset so that participants can
answer again, or D to mark or enter the correct answer; then, press enter.
10. When youve finished, you can unassign the NEO 2 so it is no longer
meant for use by the teacher. Follow these steps:
a. In the 2Know! Toolbar program, click Options and choose Teacher
Responder.
b. Click Unassign in the Teacher Responder dialog box.
c. Click Close.

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A CCELERATED R EADER S MART A PPLET ON NEO 2


NEO 2 includes an Accelerated Reader SmartApplet that students can use to
take Accelerated Reader RP Reading Practice Quizzes (English and
Spanish), Vocabulary Practice Quizzes, and Other Reading Quizzes right on
the NEO 2. The Renaissance Receiver at the teachers computer enables
NEO 2 quiz data to be sent to Accelerated Reader RP.

Preparing to Use NEO 2 with Accelerated Reader RP


Before students can use NEO 2 to take quizzes, you must do the following:
Have Accelerated Reader RP version 7.5 or higher on your Renaissance
Place server.
Install NEO Manager on the teachers computer (see page 12). This will
also install or update the Renaissance Wireless Server Utility, which
enables NEO 2 and the Renaissance Receiver to communicate with
Accelerated Reader RP.
Make sure the Accelerated Reader SmartApplet is installed on your NEO
2(s). If it isnt, you can install it using NEO Manager (see page 78). If you
would like to use Spanish quizzes, make sure that you have version 1.2 or
higher of the Accelerated Reader SmartApplet installed.
Connect a Renaissance Receiver to the teachers computer (see page 18).
In the Renaissance Wireless Server Utility, name your Renaissance
Receiver network and make sure students know the name (see page 19).
Also in the utility, enter the address or RPID of your Renaissance Place
server in the Renaissance Place Settings (see page 20).

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How Students Take Quizzes in the Accelerated Reader SmartApplet on NEO 2

How Students Take Quizzes in the Accelerated Reader


SmartApplet on NEO 2
Things to Check Befor e St udents Start Quizzing on NEO 2
Make sure youve done all the tasks listed in the previous section.
The same
Accelerated Reader
preferences apply to
students no matter where
they take quizzeson
NEO 2 or at a computerso
you only need to set the
preferences once.

In Accelerated Reader RP, set the School and Classroom Student Quizzing
preferences and the Other Reading Series preference for your class. (See
the Accelerated Reader Software Manual for instructions.)
Students need to know this information before they start taking quizzes on
NEO 2s:

The name you gave the Renaissance Receiver network (see


page 19). Students will need to choose a network/Receiver when they
take quizzes.

Their Renaissance Place user names and passwords (the same ones
they use to log in to Accelerated Reader on a computer).

The quiz number. On NEO 2, students may only search for quizzes by
quiz number. If students will be using NEO 2s to take quizzes on a
regular basis, consider including quiz numbers on your Accelerated
Reader book labels.

If you have younger students, explain how the questions and answers are
displayed on the screen and how to use the arrow keys to scroll through
questions or answers. (If you have a SmartOption Mobile Lab, you can use
the poster you received to help you explain.)

St eps for Taking a Quiz on NEO 2


1. The teachers computer must be on, with the Receiver connected. (You
can use the teachers computer for other things while students are
quizzing.)
2. Turn the NEO 2 on and press applets.
3. Press until the cursor is next to Accelerated Reader. Then, press
enter.

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The name that you


gave the
Renaissance
Receiver network is the one
students will see in the
Networks list. See page 19 to
find out how to change the
name.

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A CCELERATED R EADER SMARTAPPLET ON N E O 2


How Students Take Quizzes in the Accelerated Reader SmartApplet on NEO 2

4. The first time you use the Accelerated Reader SmartApplet, it will list the
Networks that are available. (Networks are Renaissance Receivers
connected to computers.) Use the up and down arrow keys to highlight
the Receiver you want to connect to; then, press enter.

If you have chosen a Receiver before, the program may ask if you want to
stay connected. Press Y for yes or N for no; then, press enter. (If you
choose no, youll need to select another Receiver.)
5. When the program asks for your user name and password, type your user
name and press enter or or tab. Then, type your password and press
enter.

6. If you have an unfinished quiz, the screen will ask if you want to finish it.
Press Y for yes or N for no; then, press enter. If you choose yes, go to
step 13. If you choose no, the teacher or quiz monitor must enter the
monitor password.
7. If you are in more than one Accelerated Reader class, your classes will be
listed. Use the and keys to highlight the class that you are taking this
quiz for; then, press enter.

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How Students Take Quizzes in the Accelerated Reader SmartApplet on NEO 2

8. On the next screen, use the and keys to highlight the type of quiz you
want to take (Reading Practice, Vocabulary Practice, or Other Reading).
Then, press enter.

9. For Reading Practice and Other Reading Quizzes, the Find Quiz screen
will appear next. Type the quiz number and press enter. (If you chose to
take an Other Reading Quiz, and none are available for your class, the
screen will notify you. Press enter.)

For Vocabulary Practice Quizzes, you will be asked how you want to find
the quiz: by quiz number, by matching another quiz already taken, or by
taking a ~Second-Try and Review Words~ Quiz. Highlight an answer and
press enter. If you chose to find the quiz by quiz number, type the number
and press enter. If you chose to match a quiz already taken, highlight the
quiz name and press enter; if there was only one matching vocabulary
quiz, you wont be asked to select one.

10. If the quiz is available in both English and Spanish, the screen will list
both. Use the arrow keys to select a quiz and press enter.

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A CCELERATED R EADER SMARTAPPLET ON N E O 2


How Students Take Quizzes in the Accelerated Reader SmartApplet on NEO 2

11. If the screen asks you how the book was read, use the arrow keys to
select an answer; then, press enter.

12. The quiz title will be shown.


You cannot
substitute the NEO 2
master password for
the monitor password. You
must use the monitor
password set in the
Accelerated Reader RP
preferences.

If the monitor password is not required, press Y for yes to confirm that you
want to take the quiz; then, press enter.

If the screen asks for the monitor password, the teacher or quiz monitor
must enter the Accelerated Reader monitor password and press enter.

Note: If you are not allowed to take the quiz, the screen will notify you.
Depending on the restriction, it may ask if you want to take a different quiz
or tell you to press applets to log out. There are many reasons why you
may not be allowed to take the quiz:

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There are date or time restrictions.

You arent allowed to take quizzes.

No students are allowed to take this specific quiz.

You have taken the quiz before.

You have chosen a ~Second-Try and Review Words~ Quiz, but you
dont have review words.

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How Students Take Quizzes in the Accelerated Reader SmartApplet on NEO 2

To stop a quiz, press


ctrl-A or cmd-A.
Then, ask the quiz
monitor or teacher to enter the
Accelerated Reader monitor
password and press enter.

13. NEO 2 will show you one question in the quiz. To answer each question,
press the letter for the answer you want to choose; then, press enter to go
to the next question.
If you need to scroll to see all of the answers A, use the up and down
arrow keys. If the question is long and you need to scroll to see all of the
question, you can use the up and down arrow keys to scroll in the
question; then, press tab or to switch to the answers so you can use
the arrow keys to scroll there.

Your score is not


affected by your
answer to the question
about how you liked the book.

14. After you enter your answer to the last question, you may be asked how
you liked the book. Press the letter for the answer you want to choose;
then, press enter.

15. If the screen asks for the monitor password, ask the teacher or quiz
monitor to enter the password and press enter.

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A CCELERATED R EADER SMARTAPPLET ON N E O 2


How Students Take Quizzes in the Accelerated Reader SmartApplet on NEO 2

16. The Score Summary will show you how you did on the quiz. It may also
show you information about the points youve earned.
If the summary asks if you want to see the questions you missed, press Y
for yes or N for no and press enter. If you choose yes, you can see each
missed question, your answer, and the correct answer. Press enter after
you read each one.

If the summary does not ask if you want to view the missed questions,
press enter to continue.
17. A TOPS Report may be sent to the default printer for the teachers
computer. If the program asks what language youd like to print the report
in, use the arrow keys to highlight a language. Press enter.
18. After you finish a Reading Practice Quiz, the program may ask if you want
to take the matching Vocabulary Practice Quiz. Press Y for yes if you want
to take that quiz, or N for no if you dont want to take it right now. Then,
press enter.

19. The program will ask if you want to take a different quiz. Press Y for yes if
you want to take another quiz, or N for no if you dont want to take another
one right now. Then, press enter. If you choose no, you will go back to the
list of SmartApplets available on the NEO 2.

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M ATH F ACTS IN A F LASH RP S MART A PPLET ON NEO 2


NEO 2 includes a MathFacts in a Flash RP SmartApplet that students can
use to practice or take tests right on the NEO 2. The Renaissance Receiver at
the teachers computer enables the students NEO 2 work to be sent to
MathFacts in a Flash RP.
This SmartApplet is for school work; students work on practices and tests just
as they would when they log in to Renaissance Place on a computer at
school, and they can master levels. Students can use the MathFacts in a
Flash (offline) SmartApplet to practice on their own (see page 105).

Preparing to Use NEO 2 with MathFacts in a Flash RP


Before students can use the MathFacts in a Flash RP SmartApplet on NEO 2,
you must do the following:
Have MathFacts in a Flash RP version 3.1 or higher on your Renaissance
Place server.
Install NEO Manager on the teachers computer (see page 12). This will
also install or update the Renaissance Wireless Server Utility, which
enables NEO 2 and the Renaissance Receiver to communicate with
MathFacts in a Flash RP.
Make sure the MathFacts in a Flash RP SmartApplet is installed on your
NEO 2(s). If it isnt, you can install it using NEO Manager (see page 78).
Connect a Renaissance Receiver to the teachers computer (see page 18).
In the Renaissance Wireless Server Utility, name your Renaissance
Receiver network and make sure students know the name (see page 19).
Also in the utility, enter the address or RPID of your Renaissance Place
server in the Renaissance Place Settings (see page 20).
In Renaissance Place, make sure your students have been added to the
database and enrolled in a MathFacts in a Flash class.
In MathFacts in a Flash RP, set the Classroom preferences. (For
instructions, see the MathFacts in a Flash Software Manual.)

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How Students Do MathFacts in a Flash RP School Work on NEO 2

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MATHFACTS IN A F LASH RP SMARTAPPLET ON NEO 2

How Students Do MathFacts in a F l a s h R P S c h o o l W o r k


on NEO 2
Things to Check Befor e St udents Start Using the MathFacts in a Fl ash RP
SmartApplet on NEO 2
Make sure youve done the tasks listed in the previous section.
Make sure students know the name you gave the Renaissance Receiver
network (see page 19). Students will need to choose a Renaissance
Receiver when they work in the MathFacts in a Flash RP SmartApplet.
Make sure students know their Renaissance Place user names and
passwords (the same ones they use to log in to MathFacts in a Flash on a
computer).
If you have younger students, explain how the questions and answers are
displayed on the screen and how to select or enter answers.

How Students Use t he MathFacts i n a Flash RP SmartApplet


Logging In and Choosing What to Work On
1. The teachers computer must be on, with the Receiver connected.
(Teachers can use the computer for other things while students are
working in MathFacts in a Flash.)
2. Turn the NEO 2 on by pressing on/off; then, press applets.
3. Press until the cursor is next to MathFacts in a Flash RP. Then, press
enter.
The name that you
gave the
Renaissance
Receiver network is the one
students will see in the
Networks list. See page 19
to find out how to change the
name.

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4. The first time you use the MathFacts in a Flash RP SmartApplet, it will list
the Networks that are available. (Networks are Renaissance Receivers
connected to computers.) Press or to highlight the Receiver you
want to connect to; then, press enter.
If you have chosen a Receiver before, the program may ask if you want to
stay connected. Press Y for yes or N for no; then, press enter. (If you
choose no, youll need to select another Receiver.)

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How Students Do MathFacts in a Flash RP School Work on NEO 2

If the NEO says that


the student is
already logged in,
the student may have turned
off the NEO without finishing
MathFacts in a Flash work.
Press applets to leave the
MathFacts in a Flash RP
SmartApplet. Then, go back to
step 3 to start again.

5. When the program asks for your user name and password, type your user
name and press enter or . (You can also press the tab key or one of the
other arrow keys to move between the two fields.) Then, type your
password and press enter.

6. If you are in more than one MathFacts in a Flash class, your classes will
be listed. Press or to highlight the class that you are doing work for;
then, press enter.
If you have
Renaissance Place
installed on your
own server (not hosted by
Renaissance Learning),
your version of Renaissance
Place does not support
working at a previous level, so
you will not be asked to
choose whether to work at
your current level or a
previous one.

7. The screen will give you a few options:

Work at your current level: This allows you to practice or test at the
level you are working on now.

Work at a previously mastered level (if you have mastered at least


one level): Choose this if you want to challenge your best test time for
a level.

Espaol (or English): This lets you choose to work in Spanish or


switch back to English. If you choose Spanish (Espaol), you will work
in Spanish until you log out; next time, you will need to choose it again.

Use the arrow keys to highlight the option you want; then, press enter.

Working at the Current Level


When you work at the current level, you may be asked whether to start a
practice or test. If so, press Y for yes or N for no. Then, press enter.
If the screen shows you the results of your recent work without giving you
choices, press enter to continue. Then, press or to choose what you
want and press enter:

If you have beaten


the best time goal,
no goal (or a dash) is
shown. In this case, you are
simply trying to beat your best
time.

102

To test at a new time goal.

To go to the next level.

To exit. Exit takes you back to either the results screen or the choice
between working at the current level or a previously mastered level.

Working at a Previously Mastered Level


If you choose to work at a previously mastered level, follow these steps:
1. Press or to highlight the level you want to work on; then, press enter.

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How Students Do MathFacts in a Flash RP School Work on NEO 2

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MATHFACTS IN A F LASH RP SMARTAPPLET ON NEO 2

2. You will be shown a time goal and asked whether you want to start a test.
Press Y to start the test or N not to start it; then, press enter.

Answering Questions During a Practice or Test


During a practice or test, youll see questions like the one shown below.

To change how
students enter
answers, teachers
change the Question Type
preference in MathFacts in a
Flash Renaissance Place
(previously this was handled
by the Student Answer Input
preference). They can choose
whether to have freeresponse or multiple-choice
questions and whether to
require students to select
specific letters (shortcut keys)
for answers. (If they choose to
set shortcut keys, the arrow
keys will still work as well.)

The way you answer the question depends on what you see on the screen:

If you see arrows below the answers, press , , or and press


enter. The circles below the answer choices will show you what keys
to press to choose each answer.

If you see letters below the answers, press the letter for the answer
and press enter. The circles below the answer choices will show you
what keys to press to choose each answer. (You can also press ,
, or instead of the letters shown.)

If you dont see any answer choices, type your answer and press
enter.

Tips for Practices and Tests:


During practices, the program will let you know if you enter or select an
incorrect answer.
If you select answers with arrow keys or letters, the program will put an X
over the answer you chose and a box around the correct answer. Then, it
will give you the chance to choose the correct answer.
If type your answers instead of selecting them, the program will put an X in
the blank and then display the correct answer. Then, you can type the
correct answer.
During tests, you can press esc or back space to go back one question.
If the time limit is almost up for the problem, practice, or test, a clock will
flash in the middle of the black bar at the top of the screen. If you run out of
time for the practice or test, the program will let you know.
To stop a practice or test, press ctrl-A or cmd-A. If the NEO 2 asks for a
monitor password, your teacher must enter the MathFacts in a Flash
monitor password.

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How Students Do MathFacts in a Flash RP School Work on NEO 2

After a Practice or Test


After you finish the practice or test, the screen will show you how you did.
If the screen asks whether you want to practice now, press Y to practice or N
not to practice now.
If the screen tells you to press enter, press it now. The next screen will give
you choices. Press or to highlight the choice you want; then, press
enter. Your choices might include:
If you have
Renaissance Place
installed on your
own server (not hosted by
Renaissance Learning), you
cannot work at a previously
mastered level.

The MathFacts in a
Flash TOPS Report
Preference setting
determines whether the report
is sent to the printer
automatically.

104

Whether to do another practice or test.

Whether to do a practice, take a test, or exit. (Exit takes you to the


choice between working at the current level or a previously mastered
level.)

Whether to test (try) again at a new time goal, try for a new goal at
another mastered level, or move on to the next level. (Press esc to go
back to the choice between working at the current level or a previously
mastered level.)

A TOPS Report may also be sent to the default printer for your teachers
computer.

Logging Out of the SmartApplet


When you would like to stop working in the MathFacts in a Flash RP
SmartApplet, press the applets key. You will be logged out and will go back to
the list of SmartApplets.

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M ATH F ACTS IN A F LASH ( OFFLINE ) S MART A PPLET


The MathFacts in a Flash (offline) SmartApplet for NEO 2 makes it easy for
students to practice math facts on their own when they are not doing work for
school. This section explains how to use the SmartApplet. If your NEO 2s do
not have the SmartApplet installed, you can download it from
www.renlearn.com/neo/downloads/ and install it on your NEOs (see
page 78).

Differences Between the MathFacts in a Flash (offline)


S m a r t A p pl e t a n d t he M a thFacts in a Flash RP
SmartApplet on NEO 2
MathFacts in a Flash (offline)
SmartApplet

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MathFacts in a Flash RP
SmartApplet

Need to be in range of a
Renaissance Receiver
while working?

No, only when printing and


sending the history.

Yes

Can students practice


and take tests?

Yes

Yes

Can students master


levels?

No

Yes

Do changes to mastery
time and preferences in
MathFacts in a Flash RP
affect this SmartApplet?

No

Yes

How are the results of


work shown on reports?

They can be included on the Class


Progress and Student Record
Reports by including the practice
summary (similar to work done in
Renaissance Home Connect or on
a Renaissance Responder).

Work done in this SmartApplet is


reported the same as work done
when students log in to
Renaissance Place using a
computer.

What problem format is


used?

Assisted-response.

Depends on the setting of


MathFacts in a Flash preferences.

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M ATHFACTS IN A F LASH ( OFFLINE) S MARTAPPLET


Opening the SmartApplet

Opening the SmartApplet


1. With the NEO 2 on, press the applets key.
2. Use the arrow keys to highlight MathFacts in a Flash (offline); then,
press enter.

Practicing MathFacts in a Flash Levels


Students follow these steps to practice a MathFacts in a Flash level in the
MathFacts in a Flash (offline) SmartApplet. Practices include 2040
problems.
1. Open the MathFacts in a Flash (offline) SmartApplet.
2. Leave Practice/Test highlighted and press enter.
3. Use the arrow keys to highlight the type of math facts you want to practice
as shown below. Then, press enter.

Levels that you have


already worked on
are marked with *.
Clearing the history clears the
asterisks. The history is
automatically cleared when
you send it to Renaissance
Place (see page 111). You
can also choose to clear the
history when you print it (see
page 110) or select the Clear
option in the History menu
(see page 113).

106

4. Next, use the arrow keys to highlight the level you want to practice. Then,
press enter.

5. Practice should be highlighted on the Option screen. Press enter.

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MATHFACTS IN A F LASH (OFFLINE) S MARTAPPLET


Taking Tests

If you have tested on


this level and the
test is still in the
history, the practice will
include any problems you
missed on the test plus
questions deemed
challenging for the level.

6. For each problem, press the arrow key for the answer that you want to
choose; then, press enter. For example, to choose the answer 10 in the
problem shown below, you would press on the NEO 2 because that is
the arrow shown below 10 on the screen.

If you choose the correct answer, a square will appear around the answer,
and then the next problem will appear.
If you choose the wrong answer, an X will appear over the answer you
chose; then, a dotted square will appear around the correct answer. When
the square disappears, choose the correct answer and press enter.
If time is almost up for a problem, a clock icon will flash in the black bar at
the top of the screen; choose an answer as soon as you can and press
enter. If time runs out before you answer the problem, the next problem
will appear.
7. After you answer the last question, the screen will show you how many
problems you answered correctly out of the total number you saw. It will
also show you which problems you answered incorrectly and their correct
answers. You can use the arrow keys to scroll through the results.
When you are done, press enter to go back to the Select Level screen.

Taking Tests
Students follow these steps to take a test for a MathFacts in a Flash level.
Tests always include 40 problems.
1. Open the MathFacts in a Flash (offline) SmartApplet (see page 106).
2. Leave Practice/Test highlighted and press enter.
3. Use the arrow keys to highlight the type of math facts you want to take a
test for as shown below. Then, press enter.

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Taking Tests

Levels that you have


already worked on
are marked with *.
Clearing the history clears the
asterisks. The history is
automatically cleared when
you send it to Renaissance
Place (see page 111). You
can also choose to clear the
history when you print it (see
page 110) or select the Clear
option in the History menu
(see page 113).

4. Next, use the arrow keys to highlight the level you want to take a test for.
Then, press enter.

5. Use the arrow keys to highlight Test; then, press enter.

6. For each problem, press the arrow key for the answer that you want to
choose; then, press enter. For example, to choose the answer 10 in the
problem shown below, you would press on the NEO 2 because that is
the arrow shown below 10 on the screen.

If time is almost up for a problem, a clock icon will flash in the black bar at
the top of the screen; choose an answer as soon as you can and press
enter. If time runs out before you answer the problem, the next problem
will appear.
If you need to go back one question to change your answer, press esc or
backspace. You can only go back one problem.
7. After you answer the last question, the screen will show you how many
problems you answered correctly out of the total number you saw. It will
also show you which problems you answered incorrectly and their correct
answers. You can use the arrow keys to scroll through the results.
When you are done, press enter to go back to the Select Level screen.

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Viewing the History

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MATHFACTS IN A F LASH (OFFLINE) S MARTAPPLET

Viewing the History


Students can view the history for one level or for all the work theyve done in
the MathFacts in a Flash (offline) SmartApplet.

Vi ewing the History f or One Level


Students follow these steps to see a detailed history for one level.
1. Open the MathFacts in a Flash (offline) SmartApplet (see page 106).
2. Leave Practice/Test highlighted and press enter.
3. Use the arrow keys to highlight the type of math facts you want to see the
history for as shown below. Then, press enter.

4. Next, use the arrow keys to highlight the level you want to see the history
for. Only levels marked with an asterisk have history available since they
are the only ones that you have worked on since the history was last
cleared. Press enter after choosing a level.

5. Use the arrow keys to highlight History; then, press enter.

6. You will see the history of your work for this level. When you have finished
reading the history, press enter to go back to the options for the level you
selected.

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Printing the History

Vi ewing the History f or All Pract ices and Test s


Students follow these steps to view the history of their practices and tests in
the MathFacts in a Flash (offline) SmartApplet.
1. Open the MathFacts in a Flash (offline) SmartApplet (see page 106).
2. Use the arrow keys to highlight History; then, press enter.
3. Leave View highlighted and press enter.

4. The next screen lists the activities youve done so far, including the level
name, whether it was a practice or test, the number of problems you
answered correctly, and the time you took.
To see the full results for an activity (including a list of problems you
answered incorrectly), use the arrow keys to highlight the activity; then,
press enter.

5. When you have finished viewing full results for an activity, press enter or
esc to go back.

P r i n t i ng t h e H i s t o r y
Students follow these steps to print the history of their practices and tests in
the MathFacts in a Flash (offline) SmartApplet.
Before the history can be printed, you must have a Renaissance Receiver
connected to your computer, and students need to know the name of the
Renaissance Receiver. See Setting Up the Renaissance Receiver and Using
NEO 2s Wireless Capabilities on page 17.
1. Open the MathFacts in a Flash (offline) SmartApplet (see page 106).
2. Use the arrow keys to highlight History; then, press enter.

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3. Use the arrow keys to highlight Print; then, press enter.

To find out how to


name the
Renaissance
Receiver (network), see
page 19.

4. The first time you print the history (or send it to Renaissance Place), your
NEO 2 will search for the networks that are within range. (Networks are
Renaissance Receivers connected to computers.) Then, it will show you a
list. Use the arrow keys to highlight the one you want to connect to; then,
press enter.
If you have connected to a Renaissance Receiver before, you will be
asked whether you want to stay connected to the Receiver you chose. To
continue with this Receiver, press Y for yes and press enter. (If you need
to choose a different Receiver, press N for no, then enter.)
5. Next, your name or ID. (This information will be printed on the history.)
Then, press enter.

6. After your history has been sent to the computers default printer, you will
be asked if you want to clear the historythat is, erase the history of the
practice youve done so far in this SmartApplet.
If you want to clear (erase) the history, press Y for yes. Then, press enter.
If you do not want to clear the history, press N for no. Then, press enter.

Sending the History to Renaissance Place


Students or teachers follow these steps to send the practice and test history
to MathFacts in a Flash Renaissance Place. The history is automatically
cleared when you send it to Renaissance Place.
Students will need their PINs to send the history to Renaissance Place; see
step 1 below.
The history will be sent to the Renaissance Place address (or RPID) that you
set in the Renaissance Wireless Server Utility. See page 20.

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Sending the History to Renaissance Place

In MathFacts in a Flash RP, you can see the practice data in the Class
Progress and Student Record Reports if you choose to include the practice
summary.
1. In Renaissance Place, search for students to get the Responder PIN for
each student:
a. Click Personnel, Students, and Parents, then View Students, and
search for students.
b. In the search results, click the Passwords tab to find the PINS. Then,
give students their PINs. Students will need their PIN to send the
history to Renaissance Place.
2. Open the MathFacts (offline) SmartApplet (see page 106).
3. Use the arrow keys to highlight History; then, press enter.
4. Use the arrow keys to highlight Send to Renaissance Place; then, press
enter.

To find out how to


name the
Renaissance
Receiver (network), see
page 19.

5. The first time you send the history to Renaissance Place (or print it), your
NEO 2 will search for the networks that are within range. (Networks are
Renaissance Receivers connected to computers.) Then, it will show you a
list. Use the arrow keys to highlight the one you want to connect to; then,
press enter.
If you have connected to a Renaissance Receiver before, you will be
asked whether you want to stay connected to the Receiver you chose. To
continue with this Receiver, press Y for yes and press enter. (If you need
to choose a different Receiver, press N for no, then enter.)
6. The next screen will remind you that the history is cleared from this NEO
when you send it to Renaissance Place.
If you want to continue, press Y for yes. Then, press enter.
If you dont want to go on, press N for no. Then, press enter.
7. Next, enter your MathFacts in a Flash PIN (see step 1). (Teachers who
are following these steps enter the PIN for the appropriate student.) Then,
press enter.
8. The NEO 2 will notify you when the history has been sent and cleared.
Press enter.

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Clearing the History


If students are
sharing NEO 2s, clear
the history after each
session.

Students follow these steps to clear (delete) the MathFacts in a Flash practice
and test history. Note: The history can also be cleared after you print it, and it
is automatically cleared whenever you send it to Renaissance Place.
1. Open the MathFacts (offline) SmartApplet (see page 106).
2. Use the arrow keys to highlight History; then, press enter.
3. Use the arrow keys to highlight Clear; then, press enter.

4. The next screen will ask if you are sure that you want to clear the history.
(If you have not printed the history or sent it to Renaissance Place, the
screen will also remind you of that.)
To continue clearing the history, press Y for yes, then enter.
If you dont want to clear the history, press N for no, then enter.

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K EY W ORDS W IRELESS S MART A PPLET


Welcome to KeyWords
The KeyWords Wireless SmartApplet develops basic keyboarding skills using
fun and interesting lessons. KeyWords uses a language-based system that
entertains as it trains. It provides cumulative lessons that teach accuracy and
speed a few keys at a time, and it offers encouragement with positive
feedback and helpful hints.
KeyWords also checks progress at each level with typing tests. You can then
view progress reports on the NEO 2 or by using the KeyWords program in
Renaissance Place.
The KeyWords design is based on research about how people learn to type:
Speed and typing fluency increase more readily if simple words are used
and repeated. The KeyWords method follows this model of repetition,
presenting diverse vocabulary, rhymes, and humor to keep lessons
interesting.
Typists learn patterns of keystrokes more quickly when they arent
interrupted by immediate corrections. The KeyWords error-checking
method emphasizes the importance of words and phrases.
Speed skills and accuracy are best developed independently. KeyWords
provides separate lessons for these skills. You can set proficiency goals
and view reports as learners test themselves.
Speed increases with practice typing words and phrases instead of random
letters. By practicing with words and phrases, new typists learn common
letter patterns that are the building blocks for simple and complex words.
This promotes the ability to quickly recognize and type letter combinations
that occur frequently.
If you will be using KeyWords Wireless on NEO 2 with KeyWords RP, be
sure to set the Renaissance Place address (or RPID) in the Renaissance
Wireless Server Utility; see page 20.

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How the KeyWords Wireless SmartApplet Works

How the KeyWords Wireless SmartApplet Works


If you plan to use the
KeyWords RP
reports (within
Renaissance Place), there
are a few setup tasks you will
need to perform, and you will
need to make sure your
KeyWords students are in
Renaissance Place as well.
See the KeyWords User
Manual in Renaissance Place.

1. Teachers add students, or learners add themselves as students. Teachers


may also set pre-test levels for students (see page 136).
2. The student completes the Start Here! activity and the pre-test.
3. The student selects a group of keys to learn. (Teachers may require
students to complete the lessons in order; see page 136.)
4. The student works through the activity for learning the new keys.
5. The student uses the accuracy and speed builder activities.
6. The student takes an accuracy and speed test.
7. The student or teacher checks student progress using reports on the
NEO, or the teacher synchronizes the KeyWords data with Renaissance
Place and views reports in the KeyWords RP program.
8. After completing all lessons, the student takes a post-test.

Starting the KeyWords Wireless SmartApplet


If KeyWords is not
installed on your
NEO, see page 78 to
install it.

KeyWords comes installed on each NEO. To start KeyWords, follow these


steps:
1. After starting the NEO, press applets.
2. Use the arrow keys to move the cursor next to KeyWords Wireless; then,
press enter.

Select a SmartApplet and press enter:


Accelerated Reader 1.3
- KeyWords Wireless 4.0
MathFacts in a Flash RP 1.3
3. Youll see this KeyWords startup screen:

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Adding Students to NEO 2s Using NEO Manager

Adding Students to NEO 2s Using NEO Manager


Note: If you have chosen to use KeyWords Wireless in offline mode (see
page 137), to add students, follow the instructions in Adding a Student on a
NEO 2 in Offline Mode on page 121.
If you are using online mode, you can add students to NEO Manager on your
computer first. Then, students can choose Add a student, log in (see
page 120), and start learning to keyboard.
In NEO Manager, you can add students one by one or import them from a file
or from Renaissance Place.

Import ing Students fr om Renaissance Place i nto NEO Manager


If you are using Renaissance Place software, and you already have
KeyWords RP classes set up for reporting, you can import your students
directly from your KeyWords RP classes by following these steps. This makes
it easier to make sure that you have the same students in KeyWords RP (for
reporting) and in the KeyWords SmartApplet on your NEO 2s.
1. Start NEO Manager on your computer (see page 14).
2. Click the KeyWords tab A.

A
B

3. Click Add B.
4. Click the Import from Renaissance Place option. Then, click Next >.

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5. Enter the address that you use to go to Renaissance Place in your web
browser C.

C
D

6. Enter the user name and password that you use to log in to Renaissance
Place D. Click Next >.
7. If there is more than one school in Renaissance Place, click your school;
then, click Next >.

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Adding Students to NEO 2s Using NEO Manager

8. Check the boxes next to the classes that you want to import students
from; then, click Next >.

9. On the next panel, all students are checked. All checked students will be
imported. If there are any students that you do not want to import, remove
the check mark next to those students. Then, click Next >.

10. Read the summary. Then, click Import to import the students.
11. Click Done after the students have been imported.
12. The students will be listed on the KeyWords tab. To add the students from
NEO Manager to each NEO (or to have the students add themselves by
logging in), see Adding Students to NEO 2s from NEO Manager on
page 120.

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Manually Adding Student s in NEO Manager


If you are not using Renaissance Place, you can follow these steps to add
your keyboarding students in NEO Manager:
1. Start NEO Manager on your computer (see page 14).
2. Click the KeyWords tab A.

A
B

3. Click Add B.
4. Click the option Manually enter student names. Then, click Next >.
The first name and
last name can each
be up to 35
characters long. The user
name can have from 2 to 50
characters. The password can
have from 2 to 20 characters.

5. Enter each students first name, last name, and the user name and
password that you want the student to use to log in to KeyWords. Then,
click Add. Repeat this step for each student.

6. Click Done after adding the last student.


7. The students will be listed on the KeyWords tab. To add the students from
NEO Manager to each NEO (or to have the students add themselves by
logging in), see Adding Students to NEO 2s from NEO Manager on
page 120.
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Adding Students to NEO 2s Using NEO Manager

Addi ng Students to NEO 2s from NEO Manager


To add students on NEO 2s, or to have students add themselves, follow these
steps.
Note: Whether you are adding the students or they are adding themselves,
the Student Information Report in NEO Manager gives you a helpful list of
students user names and passwords. See page 146.
1. After starting KeyWords, press the key until Add a student is
highlighted; then, press enter.

The name that you


gave the
Renaissance
Receiver network is the one
students will see in the
Networks list. See page 19
to find out how to change the
name.

2. You may be shown a list of Networks that are available. (Networks are
Renaissance Receivers connected to computers.) Use the up and down
arrow keys to highlight the Receiver you want to connect to; then, press
enter.

If you have chosen a Receiver before, the program may ask if you want to
stay connected. Press Y for yes or N for no; then, press enter. (If you
choose no, youll need to select another Receiver.)
If you make a
mistake, press back
space to erase and
correct the error. If the error is
on a different line, use the
arrow keys to go to the error
so you can correct it.

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3. Type the students user name (your user name if you are the student) and
press enter. Then, type the password and press enter.

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Adding a Student on a NEO 2 in Offline Mode

Use the Student


Information Report
in NEO Manager to
get students user names
and passwords. See
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K EY WO RD S W I RE L E S S S MA R T A P P L E T

4. You will see a Checking Settings message, then Adding new student.
After this, you will return to the KeyWords starting screen, and the student
who was added will be listed.

Teachers may want to set students pre-test levels before they begin
working in KeyWords. You can set each students level to Beginning
Typist, Intermediate Typist, or Advanced Typist. This determines what the
student will be asked to do in the test. To set the pre-test level, see
page 136.

Adding a Student on a NEO 2 in Offline Mode


Add each student to
just one NEO to avoid
confusion in reports.
The student can only use
KeyWords on a NEO where he
or she has been added, and
limiting the student to work on
a single NEO will help you
accurately monitor the
students progress through
KeyWords lessons.

These steps
describe how to add
a student to the
KeyWords Wireless
SmartApplet. If you want to
use KeyWords RP for reports,
youll need to add students in
Renaissance Place as well.

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Use this method to add your students to the KeyWords Wireless SmartApplet
if you dont have a Renaissance Receiver, and you are using the KeyWords
SmartApplet in offline mode (see page 137).
Students can also add themselves to the NEO by following these steps.
1. After starting KeyWords, press the key to move down to Add a
student; then, press enter.

2. Enter the students first name, press enter, and enter the students last
name. Then, press enter.
Note: If you make a mistake, press back space to erase the error so you
can correct it. If the error is on a different line, use the arrow keys to go to
the error so you can correct it.

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Choosing Your Name, Starting Lessons, and Taking the Pre-Test

3. Enter a password for the student (26 characters), press enter, and type
the password again. Then, press enter.
4. NEO will show you that the student is being added; then, it will return to
the KeyWords start screen, which will now include the new students
name.

5. If you want to add more students, repeat the steps above. All students that
you add will be listed alphabetically by last name.
You may want to set your students pre-test levels before they begin
working in KeyWords. You can set each students level to Beginning
Typist, Intermediate Typist, or Advanced Typist. This determines what the
student will be asked to do in the test. To set the pre-test level, see
page 136.

Choosing Your Name, Starting Lessons, and Taking the


Pre-Test
After students have been added, they can begin working through the lessons.
The first lesson is an introductory overview to teach students how to sit
properly and where to place their hands on the keyboard. The other lessons
help students learn new keys, build speed and accuracy, and test their
proficiency.
Students can follow these steps to start work in the KeyWords SmartApplet.
1. After starting KeyWords, press the key to move down to your name in
the list. Then, press enter.

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Choosing Your Name, Starting Lessons, and Taking the Pre-Test

2. You might be asked to choose a network, or you might be asked if you


want to stay connected to a specific one. Networks are Renaissance
Receivers connected to teacher computers. The teacher should tell you
which Receiver to use.

The arrows on the


screen show you that
there are more options
above or below the ones
youre viewing.

The teacher can set


the difficulty level of
the pre-test and
post-test; see page 136 to
find out how to change it on
the NEO itself or page 143 to
find out how to change the
level for multiple students and
NEOs using NEO Manager.

If the screen lists the networks, use the up and down arrow keys to
highlight the correct name; then, press enter.

If the screen asks if you want to stay connected to a Receiver, press Y


if the name is correct or N if it is not correct. Then, press enter. If you
choose no, youll be asked to choose a different one.

3. Type your KeyWords password and press enter. (If you dont know what
password to use, talk to your teacher.)
4. Use the arrow keys to highlight Pre-Test and press enter.

5. For the pre-test, after viewing instructions, type the text as instructed. At
the end of the pre-test, you will see how many words per minute (WPM)
you typed and how many errors you made. When you finish, you will go
back to the list of lessons.
6. After you complete the pre-test, you will return to the lesson list. Notice
that there is an asterisk (*) next to the pre-test that youve completed. The
* will appear next to each lesson as you complete it. The + will appear
next to each lesson that you have started, but not finished.

7. To start the first lesson, select Start Here! and press enter.
8. Follow the instructions on the NEO screen to learn about the space bar
and enter key, how to sit properly, and where to put your hands on the
keyboard.

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Learning New Keys

Note: This lesson will refer you to the keyboard picture. You or your
teacher can find this picture in the KeyWords Extras folder on the NEO
Manager CD, in the SmartApplets folder on the NEO 2 Documentation
CD, or in the KeyWords RP resources. For more about the resources
available to KeyWords teachers, see page 156.
You may see an x
before some lessons
if the teacher
requires you to do the
lessons in order (see
page 136 and page 143). The
x means that you have not
passed the Accuracy and
Speed Test for a previous
lesson. Once you pass the
test, the x will disappear from
the next lesson.

9. Now, select another lesson you want to complete (such as A S K L Keys)


and press enter. In each of the other lessons, you can choose one of
three options:

Learn new keys helps you learn to type the keys. For more
information about this, see the next section.

Use accuracy and speed builders helps you improve your accuracy
and increase your speed while typing these keys. For more
information, see page 125.

Take accuracy and speed test lets you test your proficiency using
these keys. For more information, see page 127.

As you complete each task, you can choose another option within this
lesson, or you can select another lesson. To go back to a previous screen
(such as the lesson list or the list of names), press esc until you get to that
screen.

Learning New Keys


When you choose the Learn new keys option within a lesson, KeyWords
asks you to type the keys youre learning and to type combinations of the keys
in different sequences.
If you type the wrong key, KeyWords will make corrections, but if you continue
to type the wrong keys, KeyWords will give you a hint and show you the
keyboard layout with the key highlighted to help you find it. You must press
the correct key to go on.
You can find visual aids that help you learn keyboarding on the NEO Manager
CD, on the NEO 2 Documentation CD, or in the KeyWords RP resources. See
page 156.

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Building Accuracy and Speed


You cant skip
forward or backward
during an activity.
You must perform the
activities as they are
presented. However, you can
stop a lesson by pressing esc.

When you choose Use accuracy and speed builders in a lesson, KeyWords
helps train you to press keys correctly, which improves your accuracy and
helps you build up speed. For each lesson, there are six practice passages in
the accuracy and speed builders. The following example shows the practice
passages for the ASKL keys.

To choose the passage you want to work on, move the cursor next to it and
press enter.

Accuracy
During the accuracy portion of this activity, KeyWords will ask you to type
each of the words and then give you the words in different sequences. The
accuracy builder helps you practice your newly learned keystrokes with whole
words and phrases. It emphasizes precision, not momentum. KeyWords
presents passages of small words or letter patterns to type.

When you complete all the lines in the passage, KeyWords displays the
number of errors you made. Errors are the number of words you typed
incorrectly; even if you make more than one mistake typing a word, it counts
as only one error. Typing extra spaces between words also counts as one
error.
KeyWords compares your accuracy (number of errors) to the passing criteria
(see page 138). If you dont meet the passing criteria, a message will tell you
to type more carefully so you make fewer mistakes, and you will not go to the
speed builder. You will be asked if you want to try the Accuracy Builder again;
if you want to do this, leave Y selected and press enter.

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Building Accuracy and Speed

If you meet the passing criteria, you will see a message like the one below,
and when you press the space bar, you will go on to the speed builder.

Speed Bui lder


After you pass the accuracy activity, KeyWords gives you a speed builder
activity. You cannot go straight to the speed builder activity; it always starts
automatically after you pass the accuracy activity. Even if youve completed
the accuracy activity before, you must go through it again before you can
work on the speed builder.
KeyWords shows you your goal before the activity, and afterwards, it shows
you whether you met the goal. (For more about goals, see page 138.) Goals
are based on the number of words you type per minute. Type the text on the
screen and press the space bar when asked to do so. As you type, the
progress bar will show you the rate at which you should be typing words to
meet your goal.
When you finish the activity, a message will show you whether you met your
goal. If you met your goal, you will see a message like this:

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If not, you will see a message like the one below. After you press the space
bar, you will see a message asking if you want to try the speed builder again.
Press Y for yes or N for no.

Taking an Accuracy and Speed Test


The third option in each lesson, Take accuracy and speed test, lets you test
your progress. Each lesson has four different tests that you can take. You can
retake a test anytime. Your record shows only your best results.
When you choose this option, the NEO shows the goals you need to meet for
accuracy and speed in order to pass the test.

As in the accuracy builder, the number of errors is counted as the number of


incorrectly typed words. Even if you make more than one mistake while typing
a word, it counts as only one error. Typing extra spaces between words also
counts as an error.
The top line on the screen shows you the text to type and when to press
enter. After youve finished the test, the screen shows your accuracy and
speed scores, your goal, and whether you passed for accuracy and for speed.
Note that you may pass either accuracy or speed without passing the other
element.

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Completing the Post-Test

Press the space bar on this screen. One of two things will happen:
On NEO 2s running KeyWords Wireless in offline mode (see page 137),
you will return to the lesson screen.
On NEO 2s running in online mode (see page 137), you may be asked to
choose a network name, or you will be asked if you want to stay connected
to the last one you chose. Then, KeyWords will send information about all
of your KeyWords work to the NEO Manager program on the teachers
computer.

Completing the Post-Test


The teacher can set
the difficulty level of
the pre-test and
post-test; see page 136.

After the student has completed all levels, he or she takes a post-test by
following these steps:
1. After selecting your name and entering your password, use the arrow
keys to select Post-Test; then, press enter.
2. The first two screens tell you how the test will work and then tell you to
place your fingers on the Home row. Press the space bar after reading
the instructions on each screen.
3. Type the text in the test as instructed. Press enter after typing each line.
4. When you have finished, the screen will show how many words per
minute you typed (WPM) and the number of errors you made. Press the
space bar after reading this information.
You can take the post-test more than once if you want to improve your
score. The results of your best post-test will be saved.

How Students Check Progress Using Reports


Students can check their progress any time to see how well they are doing on
KeyWords lessons. These reports are available:
Teachers can also
create a Group
Progress Report.
See page 133. Reports are
also available in KeyWords RP
in Renaissance Place; see
page 152.

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Student Progress Report: This report includes all the lessons the student
has worked on. It shows the keys that the student did each lesson for, the
students goals for words per minute (WPM) and accuracy, and the
students actual scores. It also shows whether the student has passed the
accuracy and speed test, and it lists the accuracy and speed builders that
the student has done. The pre-test and post-test are included in this report,
but they include only your words per minute and number of errors since
goals do not apply and since there is no separate accuracy and speed test.

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Last Lesson Report: This report shows the keys the lesson was for, the
students goal for words per minute (WPM), the students actual words per
minute, the students goal for errors, the students actual number of errors,
and whether the student passed the accuracy and speed test. The pre-test
and post-test are included in this report, but they include only your words
per minute and number of errors since goals do not apply and since there
is no separate accuracy and speed test.
When a student or teacher selects a report, he or she can do one of the
following:
Choose to print it.
Send it directly to the computer that has the Receiver attached.
Send it to an AlphaWord Plus file on the NEO.
If you choose to send it to an AlphaWord Plus file, the report may wrap across
several lines, so it might be difficult to read. However, you can send the file to
a computer (see page 9) or print it (page 10); if you use a monospace font like
Courier, the report will have its proper formatting.
Sending reports to AlphaWord Plus is also useful because if you are using
several NEOs with NEO Manager, you can use that program to retrieve the
files from multiple NEOs at the same time (see page 51). You can then view,
save, or print the reports.
Follow these steps to create a report:
1. In KeyWords, select your name (or your students name) from the student
list and press enter.
2. If you are using KeyWords in online mode (see page 137), you may be
shown a list of Networks (Receivers connected to computers) that are
available. Use the and keys to highlight the Receiver you want to
connect to; then, press enter.
If you have chosen a Receiver before, the program may ask if you want to
stay connected. Press Y for yes or N for no; then, press enter. (If you
choose no, youll need to select another Receiver.)
3. Type the password and press enter.
4. On the Select Lesson or Option screen, press to move up to Student
reports at the top of the list. Then, press enter.

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How Students Check Progress Using Reports

5. You can choose a Student Progress Report or a Last Lesson Report. Use
the arrow keys to select the report you want; then, press enter.

6. The report will appear on the screen. Press one of the following keys:

If characters get
jumbled when you
send to a computer
file, you may need to change
the transfer speed; press
option--S.

If file passwords are


enabled for
AlphaWord Plus (see
page 71), you must enter the
password for the file youve
chosen before the KeyWords
report can be saved there. You
can substitute the master
password for the file
password.

130

Esc lets you leave the report screen.

Print prints the report wirelessly. NEO 2 will look for the Renaissance
Receivers in range, and it may ask you to choose a Receiver network
from a list. The report will be sent to the default printer for the
computer that is connected to the Renaissance Receiver.

Send sends the file to either the computer or to an AlphaWord file on


the NEO. Choose one of the options on the screen:

Send directly to the computer: If you choose this option, make


sure NEO Manager is not running on the computer. Then, connect
your NEO to the computer via USB cable (see page 8). At the
computer, open any program that accepts text (such as a word
processing or spreadsheet program). Press send on the NEO.
Disconnect the cable when the file has been sent.

Transfer to an AlphaWord file: Choose this option if you want to


send the report to an AlphaWord Plus file in one of the eight file
spaces on the NEO. Then, type the number of the file you want to
send the report to. If the NEO warns you that the text thats already
in the file will be deleted, press Y for yes if you want to continue.
The file that you sent the report to will open. On the NEO, the
report may wrap across several lines, making it difficult to read, but
if you print the file or send it to a computer and use a monospace
font like Courier, you can see the report with its proper formatting.

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K EY WO RD S W I RE L E S S S MA R T A P P L E T
How Students Send Their Data to the Teacher (to NEO Manager) Using NEO 2

How Students Send Their Data to the Teacher (to NEO


Manager) Using NEO 2
Students who are using KeyWords Wireless in online mode can follow these
steps to send their KeyWords data to NEO Manager. Although the students
data is sent after each Accuracy and Speed test, it is sometimes useful to
send the data at other times, such as at the end of a class period in which the
student did not take a test.

NEO Manager does


not need to be open
when students send
their data.

Once students send data to NEO Manager, teachers can synchronize it with
Renaissance Place (see page 152) so that they can see the information on
KeyWords RP reports. (Teachers can also send all students KeyWords data
from a specific NEO 2 to NEO Manager; see page 135.)
Important: These steps are only for NEO 2s running KeyWords in online
mode, and you must have a Renaissance Receiver connected to your
computer. If you have chosen offline mode (see page 137) or you do not have
a Renaissance Receiver, you need to connect the NEOs to your computer to
collect and report on the data.
1. In KeyWords, select your name (or your students name) from the student
list and press enter.
2. You may be shown a list of Networks that are available. (Networks are
Renaissance Receivers connected to computers.) Use the and keys
to highlight the Receiver you want to connect to; then, press enter.

If you have chosen a Receiver before, the program may ask if you want to
stay connected. Press Y for yes or N for no; then, press enter. (If you
choose no, youll need to select another Receiver.)
3. Type the password and press enter.
4. On the Select a Lesson or Option screen, press to move up to Send
KeyWords data to teacher at the top of the list. Then, press enter.

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Teacher Options

5. If you want to send your data, leave Y selected and press enter. (If not,
press N, then press enter.)
6. A message will show you that the data is being sent to NEO Manager.
Another message will notify you when the task is complete. Press the
space bar to continue.

Teacher Options
In addition to generating reports and setting goals, the Teacher Options in
KeyWords allow you to do the following:
You can also change
these settings in
NEO Manager. Click
the Settings tab, then click
KeyWords or KeyWords
Wireless on the left to see the
settings you can change. For
more about changing settings
for KeyWords or other
SmartApplets, see page 184.

Delete one or more KeyWords students.


Create a Group Progress Report.
Send KeyWords data for all students to NEO Manager.
Require students to complete the lessons in order.
Set the pre-test and post-test level for each student.
Set KeyWords to offline mode for NEO 2.
Set custom words per minute or error goals or reset goals to the default.
Set whether students must type the home row at the beginning of activities.
Set whether KeyWord reinforces use of the correct shift key.
Set whether one space or two spaces are required between sentences.
The master password is required when you set teacher options. You can
use NEO Manager to set the master password for your NEOs (see page 168).
Follow these steps to change teacher options:
1. In KeyWords, use the arrow keys to move to Teacher options and press
enter.
2. Type the master password and press enter. The teacher options will be
listed.

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Deleting Students

Deleting Students
Within the teacher options, you can choose to delete one or more KeyWords
students from the NEO. This does not delete students from KeyWords RP or
from NEO Manager. (To delete students from NEO Manager, see page 148.)
Important: After you delete a KeyWords student, there is no way to recover
that students work. Make sure you want to permanently delete the students
work before following the steps below.
Follow these steps:
You can also delete
all KeyWords
students from NEOs
using NEO Manager. To do
this, click Settings, click
KeyWords or KeyWords
Wireless on the left, and
choose Yes for the Delete all
students option. Then, send
the change to your NEOs. You
cannot remove individual
students in NEO Manager.

1. In KeyWords, use the arrow keys to select Teacher options and press
enter.
2. Type the master password and press enter.
3. In the list of teacher options, do one of the following:

If you want to delete just one student, use the arrow keys to select
Delete a student and press enter. Then, select the students name
and press enter.

If you want to delete all KeyWords students, use the arrow keys to
select Delete all students and press enter.

4. A message will warn you that the data for the student(s) is about to be
erased. If youre sure you want to continue, press Y for yes. If not, press N
for no.

Creating a Group Progress Report


Students can view
Progress Reports
and Last Lesson
Reports. See page 128.
Reports are also available in
KeyWords in Renaissance
Place; see page 152.

One of the teacher options allows you to create a group progress report. This
report provides information on each students last lesson, including the
following:
the students goals
actual performance for speed and accuracy
whether the student passed the accuracy and speed test
If a students last lesson was a pre-test or post-test, only the actual
performance for speed and accuracy are shown since goals do not apply.

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Creating a Group Progress Report

The report includes only those students who have used KeyWords on this
NEO.
Follow these steps to create the report:
1. In KeyWords, use the arrow keys to select Teacher options and press
enter.
2. Type the master password and press enter. (For more about the master
password, see page 168.)
3. Select Create a group progress report and press enter.
4. The report will appear on the screen. Press one of the following keys:

If characters get
jumbled when you
send to a computer
file, you may need to change
the transfer speed; press
option--S.

If file passwords are


enabled for
AlphaWord Plus (see
page 71), you must enter the
password for the file youve
chosen before the KeyWords
report can be saved there. You
can substitute the master
password for the file
password.

134

Esc lets you leave the report screen.

Print prints the report wirelessly. NEO 2 will look for the Renaissance
Receiver networks in range, and it may ask you to choose a Receiver
from a list. The report will be sent to the default printer for the
computer that is connected to the Renaissance Receiver.

Send sends the file to either the computer or to an AlphaWord file on


the NEO. Choose one of the options on the screen:

Send directly to the computer: If you choose this option, make


sure NEO Manager is not running on the computer. Then, connect
your NEO to the computer via USB cable (see page 8). At the
computer, open any program that accepts text (such as a word
processing or spreadsheet program). Press send on the NEO.
Disconnect the cable when the file has been sent.

Transfer to an AlphaWord file: Choose this option if you want to


send the report to an AlphaWord Plus file in one of the eight file
spaces on the NEO. Then, type the number of the file you want to
send the report to. If the NEO warns you that the text thats already
in the file will be deleted, press Y for yes if you want to continue.
The file that you sent the report to will open, showing you
information about each students latest KeyWords lesson. On the
NEO, the report may wrap across several lines, making it difficult
to read, but if you print the file or send it to a computer and use a
monospace font like Courier, you can see the report with its proper
formatting.

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K EY WO RD S W I RE L E S S S MA R T A P P L E T
Sending All KeyWords Student Data from NEO 2 to NEO Manager

S e n d i n g A l l K e y W o r d s S t u d e n t Data from NEO 2 to NEO


Manager
When you use KeyWords Wireless on NEO 2 in online mode (see page 137),
data for each students KeyWords work is sent to NEO Manager after each
Accuracy and Speed test. Students can also send their KeyWords data to
NEO Manager at any time (see page 131).
At times, you may need to send all KeyWords data from a specific NEO 2 to
NEO Manager. This sends the data for all students who have used KeyWords
on that NEO to NEO Manager. When you do this, the data is not removed
from the NEO 2.
Follow these steps:
1. In KeyWords, use the arrow keys to select Teacher options and press
enter.
2. Type the master password and press enter.
3. Select Send Keywords student data to NEO Manager and press enter.
4. A message will remind you what this option does. To continue, leave Y
selected and press enter. (If you dont want to continue, press N, then
enter, instead.)
5. You may be shown a list of Networks that are available. (Networks are
Renaissance Receivers connected to computers.) Use the up and down
arrow keys to highlight the Receiver you want to connect to; then, press
enter.
If you have chosen a Receiver before, the program may ask if you want to
stay connected. Press Y for yes or N for no; then, press enter. (If you
choose no, youll need to select another Receiver.)
6. NEO 2 will check settings, then send the data. When the NEO 2 has
finished sending the data to NEO Manager, it will notify you. Press the
space bar.

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Requiring Students to Complete KeyWords Lessons in Order

Requiring Students to Complete KeyWords Lessons in


Order
You can also change
this setting in NEO
Manager. With the
NEO(s) connected, click the
Settings tab in NEO
Manager, click KeyWords or
KeyWords Wireless on the
left, and choose Yes or No
after Require Sequential
Lessons. Then, send the
change to your NEOs.

If you want your students to complete the KeyWords lessons in the order
listed, follow these steps:
1. In KeyWords, use the arrow keys to select Teacher options and press
enter.
2. Type the master password and press enter.
3. Select Turn sequential lessons ON (or OFF) and press enter.
4. The next screen will show you whether the sequential lesson requirement
is on or off; then, it will ask if you want to turn it on (if its off) or off (if its
on). If you want to change the setting, press Y for yes. Press enter to
finish changing the setting.

Setting a Pre-Test and Post-Test Level for KeyWords


Students
Before your students begin working in KeyWords, you may want to set the
pre-test and post-test level to indicate whether the student is a beginning
typist, an intermediate typist, or an advanced typist. This determines the
difficulty of the pre-test and post-test. If you do not set the level, it defaults to
Intermediate Typist.

Grade
Level

Grade
Level
Equivalent
Score

Number
of
Words

Number
of
Unique
Letters

Number of
Punctuation
Marks

1 minute

12

0.7

22

19

Intermediate
Typist

2 minutes

34

2.0

46

24

Advanced
Typist

45
minutes

56

3.1

91

26

Estimated
Time
Required

Beginning
Typist

Level

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Setting KeyWords Wireless to Offline Mode on NEO 2

Follow these steps to set the level for the KeyWords students using this NEO:
In NEO Manager, you
can change the pretest/post-test level for
all existing students (but not
new ones you will add later).
With the NEO(s) connected,
click the Settings tab in NEO
Manager, click KeyWords or
KeyWords Wireless on the
left, and use the drop-down list
to choose a level after
Pre/Post-Test level. Then,
send the change to your
NEOs. If you update the
KeyWords SmartApplet, the
pre-test and post-test levels
may be reset to the default for
all students; see page 144.

1. In KeyWords, use the arrow keys to select Teacher options and press
enter.
2. Type the master password and press enter.
3. Select Set Pre-Test/Post-Test Level and press enter.
4. Use the arrow keys to select the name of the student who needs the level
set. Then, press enter.
5. If the student has already completed either a pre-test or post-test, the next
screen will tell you that. If you want to continue, press Y for yes, then
enter. (If you dont want to proceed, leave N selected and press enter.)
6. The next screen shows the current pre-test and post-test level for the
student. (The default is Intermediate Typist.) Use the up and down arrow
keys to choose a different level. Then, press enter.
7. If you want to set the level for another student, repeat steps 46. When
you have finished, press esc until you have gone back to the screen that
you need.

Setting KeyWords Wireless to Offline Mode on NEO 2


NEO 2 can run the KeyWords Wireless SmartApplet in online or offline mode.
The default is online mode.
Online mode requires you to have a Renaissance Receiver connected to
your computer. In online mode, you can add or import students in NEO
Manager (see page 116), and when you choose to add them on NEO 2, you
can simply enter their user names and passwords. After students take an
Accuracy and Speed test, their data is automatically sent to NEO Manager.
Students can also choose to send their KeyWords data to NEO Manager.
Offline mode does not allow KeyWords data to be sent to NEO Manager
wirelessly. In offline mode, you must add students manually on each NEO 2
(see page 137).
To change modes on a NEO 2, follow these steps:
1. In KeyWords, use the arrow keys to select Teacher options and press
enter.
2. Type the master password and press enter.
3. Select Set student offline mode and press enter.

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Setting Speed and Accuracy Goals for KeyWords Students

4. The screen will show whether offline mode is on or off. Then, it will ask if
you want to change the setting. (Remember: when offline mode is ON,
you are using KeyWords in offline mode. When offline mode is OFF, you
are using KeyWords in online mode.)
Press Y for yes to change it or N for no; then, press enter.

Setting Speed and Accuracy Goals for KeyWords


Students
In the Teacher Options, you can also set new speed (words per minute or
WPM) and accuracy (error) goals for students who use KeyWords on each
NEO. As your students typing improves, you may want to set a higher goal for
words per minute and a lower goal for errors. Only teachers can set goals;
students cant set their own goals.
When you set goals, you are setting them for all lessons and all students who
use this NEO. You cant set different goals for different students who are
using the same NEO. The goals apply to all accuracy and speed builders and
to tests.

Teacher-Set Goals Versus the Defaul t Automatic Goal s


If you set goals using the teacher options, those goals will stay the same for
all lessons and students until you change them.
If you do not set goals using the teacher options, KeyWords starts with easy
goals for all students and gradually makes the goals more difficult as students
progress through lessons. The following table shows how the goals progress
as a student works through lessons.

138

Lesson

Accuracy/Error Goal
(Maximum)

Words per Minute (WPM)


Goal (Minimum)

Pre-Test

NA

NA

ASKL Keys

12

DJF Keys

12

10

TH Keys

12

12

GO Keys

10

14

EI Keys

10

16

PR Keys

10

16

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Setting Speed and Accuracy Goals for KeyWords Students

Lesson

Accuracy/Error Goal
(Maximum)

Words per Minute (WPM)


Goal (Minimum)

QU Keys

16

WY Keys

18

Z? Keys

16

X. Keys

18

C, Keys

20

MV Keys

22

NB Keys

22

" ' ! Keys

14

Number Keys

14

NA

NA

Post-Test

If you have set goals in the teacher options and you want to go back to the
default automatic goals that are shown in the table, see the instructions on
page 140 to reset goals to the default.

How t o Set Goals Manual ly i n the Teacher Options


Follow these steps to set new goals that are the same for all students and
lesson activities:
You can also set
KeyWords goals in
NEO Manager. With
the NEO(s) connected, click
the Settings tab in NEO
Manager and click KeyWords
Wireless on the left. Then,
enter values for the custom
WPM and error goals and
send the changes to your
NEOs.

NEO 2
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1. In KeyWords, use the arrow keys to select Teacher options and press
enter.
2. Type the master password and press enter.
3. Select Set custom WPM and error goals and press enter.
4. The screen shows the current words per minute goal. Type the new goal
that you want to set. You can enter any number from 1 to 99. Press enter.

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Setting Speed and Accuracy Goals for KeyWords Students

5. The screen shows the current maximum number of errors allowed goal.
Type the new goal that you want to set. You can enter any number from 0
to 99. Press enter.

You will return to the teacher options list.

Resetting Goal s to the Def ault


You can also reset
KeyWords goals in
NEO Manager. With
the NEO(s) connected, click
the Settings tab in NEO
Manager and click KeyWords
Wireless on the left. Choose
Yes after Reset WPM/error
goals to default. Then, send
the change to your NEOs.

Follow these steps to change back to the default goals, which change as
students progress through the lessons. (See the table that starts on
page 138.) Resetting the goals does not affect work that students have
already done.
1. In KeyWords, use the arrow keys to select Teacher options and press
enter.
2. Type the master password and press enter.
3. Select Reset WPM and error goals to default and press enter.
4. You will be asked whether you want to reset the goals. Press Y for yes or
N for no; then, press enter.
If you choose Y, a message will tell you that the goals have been reset.
Press the space bar to go back to the teacher options.

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Choosing Whether to Enforce Use of the Correct Shift Key

C h o o s i n g W h e t h e r t o E n f orce Use of the Correct


S h if t K e y

You can also change


this setting in NEO
Manager. With the
NEO(s) connected, click the
Settings tab in NEO
Manager, click KeyWords or
KeyWords Wireless on the
left, and choose Yes or No
after Turn Require correct
shift key OFF or ON. Then,
send the change to your
NEOs.

For faster and more accurate touch-typing, students should learn to type a
capital letter by holding down the shift key with the opposite hand from the
one that is typing the letter. For example, to type A, you should hold down
the shift key using the little finger of the right hand while typing a with the little
finger of the left hand.
If you choose to enforce this practice, in the teacher options, Correct Shift Key
Enforcement should be On (as it is when you first receive the NEO). If it is
on, when students are learning new keys in lessons that require them to type
capital letters, NEO will show a message like the one below if they use the
incorrect shift key.

Follow these steps to turn this option on or off:


1. In KeyWords, use the arrow keys to select Teacher options and press
enter.
2. Type the master password and press enter.
3. Select Turn require correct shift key ON (or OFF) and press enter.
4. The next screen will show you whether correct shift key enforcement is on
or off; then, it will ask if you want to turn it on (if its off) or off (if its on). If
you want to change the setting, press Y for yes; if not, press N for no.
Press enter.

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Enforcing Use of the Home Row

Enforcing Use of the Home Row

You can also change


this setting in NEO
Manager. With the
NEO(s) connected, click the
Settings tab in NEO
Manager, click KeyWords or
KeyWords Wireless on the
left, and choose Yes or No
after Turn Home Row
confirmation ON or OFF.
Then, send the change to your
NEOs.

Because returning your fingers to the home row is such an important concept
in touch-typing, you can choose to have KeyWords request that students
press the home row keys (A S D F J K L ;) in sequence during lessons.
When this option is turned on, students see the message below at the
beginning of each accuracy and speed builder activity and each test.

Students must then type the home row keys in order from left to right before
they can exit the screen and go on to the lesson. If they type the keys
incorrectly, KeyWords backspaces to where they made the error, and it wont
let them continue until they press the correct letters in the correct order.
This option is off by default. To turn it on or off again, follow these steps:
1. In KeyWords, use the arrow keys to select Teacher options and press
enter.
2. Type the master password and press enter.
3. Select Turn Home Row confirmation ON (or OFF) and press enter.
4. The next screen will show you whether home row confirmation is on or off;
then, it will ask if you want to turn it on (if its off) or off (if its on). If you
want to change the setting, press Y for yes. Press enter.

Requiring One or Two Sp a c e s b e t w e e n S e n t e n c e s


You can also change
this setting in NEO
Manager. With the
NEO(s) connected, click the
Settings tab in NEO
Manager, click KeyWords or
KeyWords Wireless on the
left, and choose 1 or 2 after
Set spaces between
sentences. Then, send the
change to your NEOs.

142

In traditional keyboarding classes with typewriters, typists were asked to put


two spaces after a period before starting a new sentence. Modern
typesetting, word processing, and web pages all use just one space between
sentences.
The KeyWords settings default to 2 spaces between settings, but in the
teacher options, you can change the number of spaces that you want your
students to include between sentences. Follow these steps:
1. In KeyWords, use the arrow keys to select Teacher options and press
enter.
2. Type the master password and press enter.

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Using NEO Manager with KeyWords

3. Select Set one/two spaces between sentences and press enter.


4. The screen will show the current setting and ask if you want to change it.
Press Y for yes or N for no. Then, press enter.

Using NEO Manager with KeyWords


NEO Manager can be helpful to KeyWords users in these ways:
It lets you add your KeyWords students or import them from Renaissance
Place (see page 116). After youve done that, you can easily add your
students on NEO 2s (or they can add themselves) using their user names
and passwords.
It lets you set all KeyWords options from one screen at your computer.
If you have a SmartOption Mobile Lab with an AlphaHub, NEO Manager
lets you manage KeyWords options for up to thirty NEOs at the same time.
NEO Manager can retrieve KeyWords data from NEOs and create reports
that you can print and save.
NEO Manager can also synchronize that data with the KeyWords program
in Renaissance Place, allowing you to use that program to generate
reports. (See page 152.)
The following procedures explain how to use some KeyWords features of
NEO Manager.

Setti ng KeyWords Wi reless Options in NEO Manager


The KeyWords Wireless SmartApplet settings that you can change in NEO
Manager are the same ones that you can change on the NEO itself in the
Teacher Options. However, changing the settings in NEO Manager is
sometimes faster because you can make all setting changes in one window,
and you can change settings for all NEOs that are connected to your
computer.

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Using NEO Manager with KeyWords

The following table describes the KeyWords Wireless settings you can
change and where to find the same settings on the NEO itself.

Setting

What It Does

Where to Find on the NEO

Disable this
SmartApplet

Turns off access to KeyWords so it cant be used on the NEO(s).


KeyWords is still installed, but if anyone tries to select it in the list
of SmartApplets, the user is notified that it is disabled. Users of
NEO need the master password to enable it again. Click Yes or
No.

Press applets, move the


cursor down next to
KeyWords, and press ctrl-L. Then, enter the master
password and press enter.
will appear next to
KeyWords in the list.

Delete all
students

Deletes all students who have been added to KeyWords and


their KeyWords data. Click Yes or No. Note: In NEO Manager,
you can delete all students, but not individual students. To delete
one student, use the KeyWords teacher options on the NEO.

You can delete one student


or all students in the teacher
options in KeyWords. (See
page 133.)

Enable
student offline
mode

This sets the KeyWords Wireless SmartApplet to offline mode,


which means there will be no wireless communication between
your NEO 2s and NEO Manager. In this mode, you must enter
student information manually on each NEO, and KeyWords data
cannot be sent from NEOs to NEO Manager except when you
retrieve it on the KeyWords tab in NEO Manager. Click Yes or
No.

You can find this setting in


the teacher options in
KeyWords. (See page 137.)

Require
sequential
lessons

Determines whether KeyWords students must complete the


KeyWords lessons in the order they are listed. Click Yes or No.

You can also find this setting


in the teacher options in
KeyWords. (See page 136.)

Pre/Post-Test
level

Sets the pre-test and post-test level for all new and existing
students to Beginning Typist, Intermediate Typist, or Advanced
Typist. The level determines the content of the pre-test and posttest for each student. Choose a level from the drop-down list.
Note: If you update the KeyWords SmartApplet from NEO
Manager, and Replace SmartApplets on device with
SmartApplets from Computer is checked in the NEO Manager
preferences, all students pre-test and post-test levels will be
reset to the default.

In the KeyWords teacher


options, you can set a
separate level for each
student. (See page 136.)

Set custom
WPM goals

Sets a specific words per minute (WPM) speed goal for all
students and all lessons. This overrides the automatic
progression of goals that KeyWords normally uses (see
page 138). Type the minimum words per minute you want
students to achieve. (The default is 8.)

You can set goals in the


teacher options in
KeyWords. (See page 139.)

Set custom
error goals

Sets a specific goal for maximum errors allowed per activity for
all students and all lessons. This overrides the automatic
progression of goals that KeyWords normally uses (see
page 138). Type the maximum errors you want students to be
allowed. (The default is 12.)

You can set goals in the


teacher options in
KeyWords. (See page 139.)

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Setting

What It Does

Where to Find on the NEO

Reset
WPM/error
goals to
default

Resets goals to the ones used by default in KeyWords (see


page 138). Click Yes or No.

You can reset goals in the


teacher options in
KeyWords. (See page 140.)

Turn Require
correct shift
key OFF

Determines whether KeyWords checks to make sure that


students use the shift key opposite the letter they are typing to
make that letter uppercase. If students use the wrong shift key,
they will see a message asking them to use the other shift key.
Click Yes or No.

You can turn this


requirement on or off in the
teacher options in
KeyWords. (See page 141.)

Turn Home
Row
confirmation
ON

Determines whether KeyWords requires students to type the


home row keys at the beginning of each accuracy and speed
builder activity and the beginning of each test. This helps get
students used to placing their hands on the home row. Click Yes
or No.

You can turn this


requirement on or off in the
teacher options in
KeyWords. (See page 142.)

Set spaces
between
sentences

Determines whether students are required to type one space or


two between sentences. Click 1 or 2.

You can change the spaces


required between sentences
in the teacher options in
KeyWords. (See page 142.)

Follow these steps to change KeyWords options in NEO Manager.


1. Start NEO Manager on your computer (see page 14) and connect your
NEO (see page 8) or the SmartOption Mobile Lab.
2. Click the Settings tab in NEO Manager.
If KeyWords
Wireless isnt in the
Settings list, one or
more of the connected NEOs
doesnt have KeyWords
installed. To install it on all
connected NEOs, click the
SmartApplets tab, click
KeyWords Wireless in the
list, and click Add. (Once
youve chosen to install it, you
can change the settings.)
Then, send the SmartApplet
to the NEOs (see page 78).

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3. Click KeyWords Wireless A in the list of SmartApplets on the left as


shown.

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Using NEO Manager with KeyWords

To restore all
KeyWords Wireless
settings to the
defaults, click Restore
Defaults at the bottom of the
window.

4. Make changes as needed to the settings listed on the right. (Make sure
the box is checked for each setting youre changing. As you change
settings, notice that the KeyWords Wireless box is automatically
checked on the left.)
5. Click the Send List tab and make sure that your changes are listed.

6. If you have multiple NEOs and you want to limit the changes to certain
NEOs, click Select Devices. Then, check the NEOs that should get the
changes, and click OK.
7. Click Send.

Retri evi ng KeyWor ds Dat a and Generating Reports in NEO Manager


Follow the steps below to retrieve your students KeyWords data from NEOs
and view, save, or print reports.
Note: If KeyWords is being used in online mode (see page 137), students
KeyWords data is automatically sent to NEO Manager after each Accuracy
and Speed test, and the student can send the data to NEO Manager at any
time (see page 131). Teachers can also send all KeyWords data from a
specific NEO 2 to NEO Manager (see page 135).
1. Start NEO Manager on your computer (see page 14) and connect your
NEO (see page 8) or the SmartOption Mobile Lab.

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2. Click the KeyWords tab in NEO Manager. NEO Manager will retrieve
students KeyWords data from all connected NEOs. You can click the
Device column heading A to sort students by the device they are using
instead of by name.

3. Check the boxes next to the students or devices (NEOs) you want to
include in reports and click Reports B. (If you dont check any students,
the program will assume you want to include all students listed.)
4. First, click the report you want to
generate: Student Detail,
Student Progress, or Student
Information C:
For pre-tests and
post-tests, only the
actual words per
minute and errors are shown
since the other information
does not apply to these tests.

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The Student Detail Report


D
lists each students
information separately. For
each lesson, the report
includes the goals, actual
words per minute and errors, whether the lesson was passed, and the
accuracy and speed builders completed.

The Student Progress Report includes information on each students


latest lesson, including the goals, actual words per minute, actual
errors, and whether the lesson has been passed.

The Student Information Report includes your students first names,


last names, user names, and passwords. This is useful if you have
added your students in NEO Manager (see page 116) and you want to
give students their user names and passwords so they can log in.

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Next, click the group you want to include: the selected (checked) students
or all students D. Click OK to continue.
5. If you chose the Student Information Report, you will be asked to enter
the master password. (For more about that password, see page 168.)
After entering the password, click OK.
6. The report will open in a new window.

To save the report, click Save, type a name for the report and choose a
location for the file, and click Save.
To print the report, click Print, choose your printer, and click OK
(Windows) or Print (Macintosh).
To close the report window, click Close.

Deleting KeyWords Students from NEO Manager


Follow these steps to delete KeyWords students and their data from NEO
Manager. This does not delete the data from the NEO 2s that the students
are using, and if they send their KeyWords data to NEO Manager again, the
students will once again be listed in NEO Manager. If you want to remove
the students from both the KeyWords tab in NEO Manager and from the
SmartApplet on their NEO 2s, see Resetting KeyWords Students Using NEO
Manager on page 149.
1. Start NEO Manager on your computer (see page 14).

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2. Click the KeyWords tab A.

A
C

3. Check the box B in front of the student(s) that you want to delete from
NEO Manager.
4. Click Delete C.
5. A message will remind you that this will remove the students and their
data and that this cannot be undone. If you want to continue, click Yes;
the student name will be deleted from the list.

Resetting KeyWords Students Using NEO Manager


By following the steps below, you can use NEO Manager to reset KeyWords
students on connected NEOs. Resetting the KeyWords students does the
following:
Deletes all KeyWords students that are listed on the KeyWords tab in NEO
Manager.
If any of your NEOs
are not connected
when you select this
command, you can manually
delete the KeyWords students
from that NEO; see page 133.

Deletes all KeyWords students from connected NEOs.


This makes it easier to get ready to use KeyWords on your NEOs before a
new school year begins.
1. Start NEO Manager on your computer (see page 14).
2. Connect your SmartOption Mobile lab to your computer, or connect a
single NEO (see page 8).
3. In NEO Manager, click the Setup menu and choose Reset KeyWords
Students.

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About KeyWords Reports

4. In the message that appears, if you want to continue, click Yes. (If not,
click No.) If you click Yes, the KeyWords students will be removed from the
KeyWords tab in NEO Manager and from all connected NEOs.

About KeyWords Reports


There are several different ways to get reports on student work in KeyWords:

Reports

150

Where or How to Generate them

Student Progress Report


Last Lesson Report

Students can generate these reports on


the NEO from within KeyWords. See
page 128.

Group Progress Report

Teachers can generate this report on the


NEO that includes information on each
students last lesson. See page 133.

Student Detail Report


Group Student Progress
Report
Student Information Report

Teachers can view these reports in NEO


Manager. See page 146.

Master Class Report

Teachers can use templates that come with


KeyWords to create this report from each
students Last Lesson Report. See the
instructions on page 151.

Teachers can view and print these reports


in KeyWords RP, which is available when
you own any other Renaissance Place
product. This requires that you synchronize
your KeyWords data with Renaissance
Place using NEO Manager (see page 152).
For more information about KeyWords RP,
see page 152 and the KeyWords User
Manual in Renaissance Place.

Certificate
Diagnostic Report
Schoolwide Summary Report
Student Record Report

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Creating a Master Class Report


By following the steps below, you can create a master class report that
includes the Last Lesson Reports from each of your students.
When you send a Last Lesson Report to a program on your computer instead
of printing it or sending it to AlphaWord Plus, the column headers arent
included so that you can easily create a master classroom report. To create
the master class report, open the LastLessonreport.xls Microsoft Excel file
included on the NEO Manager CD; then, have your students create a Last
Lesson Report and send their reports one at a time into the Excel file on your
computer. Follow these steps:
1. Copy the LastLessonreport.xls file from one of these locations:

The KeyWords Extras folder on the NEO Manager CD.

The folder where NEO Manager is installed on your computer:


Windows: Program Files\AlphaSmart\AlphaSmart Manager
2\KeyWords Extras\.
Macintosh: Applications : AlphaSmart : AlphaSmart Manager 2 :
KeyWords Extras.

Paste the file onto your computer and open it. Click on the first cell under
the heading as shown A.

2. Have each of your students create a Last Lesson Report on their NEO 2s.
(See page 128.) Tell them to wait before choosing whether to print the
report, send it to a computer, or send it to an AlphaWord Plus file.
3. Have a student connect his or her NEO to your computer using the USB
cable. Then, have the student press send, then Send directly to the
computer.
After a moment, the student will be asked to press send again. This will
send the students data into the first row below the column headings.

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When the data has been sent, have the student disconnect the NEO.
Click in the first cell in the next row.
Repeat this step for each student.
4. Add any other information you want in the report, such as your name or
the classroom, and then save or print the file for your records.

Using KeyWords RP to View and Print Reports


KeyWords RP is a Renaissance Place program that allows you to generate
reports about your students work in KeyWords on NEOs. You do not need to
purchase KeyWords RP separately. You can use it if you have another
Renaissance Place program and if you are using KeyWords on NEOs.
KeyWords RP provides powerful and easy-to-use reports so teachers can
see information for individual students, classes, and entire schools.
The steps below describe how to synchronize your KeyWords data on NEOs
with KeyWords RP.
For more information about using KeyWords RP, click Manuals on any
Renaissance Place page and click the KeyWords User Manual.

Synching KeyWords Dat a wit h KeyWords RP


By following these steps, you can synchronize your KeyWords data with the
KeyWords program in Renaissance Place.
Renaissance Place is a web-based information system that brings together a
wealth of student data, giving teachers, principals, and administrators the
information they need in one place. You can use KeyWords in Renaissance
Place if you own and have registered any other Renaissance Place product,
such as Accelerated Reader, Accelerated Math, MathFacts in a Flash, STAR
Early Literacy, STAR Reading, or STAR Math.
Before you synchronize KeyWords data with KeyWords in Renaissance
Place, you must do the following:
Make sure KeyWords RP is installed on your server.
Activate your school(s) in Renaissance Place (see the KeyWords User
Manual in Renaissance Place).
Make sure you have your Renaissance Place user name and password. (In
NEO Manager, different Renaissance Place users can synchronize
KeyWords data from the same computer as long as they log in to the
computer using different passwords or accounts.)

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To find manuals in
Renaissance Place,
click Manuals in the
upper-right corner of any
page. Then, click the manual
you want to open.

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Add your KeyWords students to Renaissance Place (see the Renaissance


Place Software Manual). Make sure that the first and last names are
identical to the student names in KeyWords on the NEOs. This is important
because students KeyWords data is matched to their records in
Renaissance Place. Data can only be synchronized for students who have
been added to Renaissance Place. (If you imported your students from
Renaissance Place into NEO Manager, you already have the students in
Renaissance Place.)
Make sure your KeyWords courses, classes, and teachers have been
added to Renaissance Place. Teachers must be assigned to the classes,
and students must be enrolled in the classes. You must also check the
KeyWords box for the lead teacher or check KeyWords when you assign
products to classes in the course. For instructions, see the Renaissance
Place Real Time Software Manual.
Follow these steps to synchronize KeyWords data with RP:
1. Start NEO Manager on your computer (see page 14) and connect your
NEO (see page 8) or the SmartOption Mobile Lab.
2. Click the KeyWords tab in NEO Manager. NEO Manager will retrieve
students KeyWords data from all connected NEOs.
If you are using a SmartOption Mobile Lab and you want to sort students
by their device number instead of by name, click the Device column
heading A.

3. Click Synch with RP B.

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Using KeyWords RP to View and Print Reports

4. Enter the web address that you use to access Renaissance Place C.

C
D

5. Enter the user name and password that you use to log in to Renaissance
Place D.
6. If you have synchronized with RP before, you can choose to automatically
synch students that have already been matched, or you can use the full
wizard to change previous matches of KeyWords with RP E. Click an
option.
7. Click Next >.
8. If this is your first time synchronizing, or if you chose to use the full wizard
to change previous matches, click the school you want to use if
necessary. Click Next >.
If you have synchronized before and chose to automatically synch
students with Renaissance Place in the previous step, a message will
appear telling you how many students were successfully imported into
Renaissance Place. Click Done and go to step 12.
9. Check the class(es) containing the students that you want to synchronize
with Renaissance Place. Click Next >.

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The first time you


synchronize, or any
time you use the full
wizard, NEO Manager
performs a basic name match
(auto-matching) between the
list of Renaissance Place
students and the KeyWords
students on the NEOs.

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10. Match the KeyWords students with the Renaissance Place students as
described below.

G
J
F Click a KeyWords student
name that you want to match
to a Renaissance Place
student. The list is based on
the KeyWords students who
were added to the NEO(s)
connected to your computer.

G Click the Renaissance Place


student name you want to
match to the KeyWords
student you selected. The list
is based on Renaissance
Place students already
enrolled in the school and
class you selected in the
previous dialog boxes.

H Click Match >> to match the


students and move them to
the Matched Students area on
the right.

I If you want to remove a match,


click the student names in the
Matched Students column and
click << Unmatch to separate
the names and move them
back to their respective
columns on the left side.

J Click Next > when you have


finished.

11. After the progress dialog box disappears, the program will show you how
many students had data successfully imported into Renaissance Place.
Click Done.
12. Open your web browser and go to the server address (URL) where
Renaissance Place is installed.
13. Log in to Renaissance Place (see the KeyWords User Manual in
Renaissance Place).
14. View and/or print KeyWords RP reports in Renaissance Place (see the
KeyWords User Manual).

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KeyWords Resources for Teachers

K e y W o r d s R e s o u rc e s f o r T e a c h e r s
The resources that are available for KeyWords can help teachers learn how to
use KeyWords to teach their students touch-typing. Resources include:
reference materials provided with KeyWords and KeyWords RP that you
can use to make handouts and transparencies
a review of ergonomic typing posture and body placement
a sample lesson plan for using KeyWords in a classroom with NEOs

Materials for Handouts and Transparencies


You can find KeyWords Resources in several places, which are described
below.
You need Adobe
Reader to view and
print all PDF files.
Adobe Reader is available at
www.adobe.com.

NEO Manager Start Menu or Program Folder


On Windows XP, Vista, and 7 computers, click StartAll ProgramsNEO
ManagerKeyWords Master Transparencies.
On Windows 8 computers, press the Windows key and Q to see a list of all
apps, then click KeyWords Master Transparencies under NEO Manager.
On Macintosh computers, open Applications : AlphaSmart : AlphaSmart
Manager 2 : KeyWords Extras and open KeyWords SmartApplet Master.

NEO Manager CD or Downloaded Files


In the KeyWords Extras folder on the NEO Manager CD (and in the NEO
Manager download files), youll find a file named KeyWords SmartApplet
Master.pdf.

Documentation CD for NEO 2


If you received a Documentation CD, you find the KeyWords SmartApplet
Master.pdf file in the SmartApplets folder.

KeyWords RP Resources Page


In KeyWords RP (Renaissance Place), you can click Resources in the list of
KeyWords tasks to see many of these resources. Most of the resources can
be found on the Resources page, but you can print Certificates from the
KeyWords RP Reports page.

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Resource Locations

NEO 2
User Manual

Location

Resources Available

NEO Manager Start


menu or program folder

Posture and Wrist Placement


Key Strikes
Finger Zones
Home Row Keys
Finger Placement for Lessons
Progress Report Master
Sustained Practice Activities
Congratulations Certificate

NEO Manager CD or
downloaded NEO
Manager files

Posture and Wrist Placement


Key Strikes
Finger Zones
Home Row Keys
Finger Placement for Lessons
Progress Report Master
Sustained Practice Activities
Congratulations Certificate

Documentation CD

Posture and Wrist Placement


Key Strikes
Finger Zones
Home Row Keys
Finger Placement for Lessons
Progress Report Master
Sustained Practice Activities
Congratulations Certificate

KeyWords RP
Resources Page

Keyboarding Cards
Posture and Wrist Placement (in the Getting
Started posters)
Key Strikes (in the Getting Started posters)
Finger Zones (in the Getting Started posters)
Home Row Keys (in the Getting Started posters)
Finger Placement for Lessons
Sustained Practice Activities (under Forms and
Charts)
Certificate (Reports page only)

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KeyWords Resources for Teachers

Resource Descriptions
Name of Handout

Description of Master

Prepare these masters before using KeyWords on NEOs:


Posture and Wrist
Placement

This master shows a drawing of a student seated


properly with good wrist and hand position. Use it
to create an overhead transparency or a reference
handout for students.

Key Strike

This master shows close-up sketches of correct


finger strike positions. Use it to create an
overhead transparency or a handout for students.

Finger Zones

This master illustrates the keyboard divided into


zones. A graphic shows the fingers that
correspond to the zones on the keyboard on each
hand. Use this master as a handout or a poster.

Home Row Keys

This master shows Home Row positions for the


left and right hands. Use this master as a handout
or a poster.

Use these masters while working with KeyWords on NEOs:


Finger Placement for
Lesson 1: Start Here!

This master illustrates the right and left hands with


fingers labeled, and shows those fingers in their
home row positions. It also illustrates the finger
reach to the enter key and the use of the thumb to
strike the space bar. Use it to create handouts or
posters.

Finger Placement for


Lessons 2 through 16

These masters illustrate finger placement and


reaches useful for student reference as they learn
each level. Use the masters to create a handout
for each lesson.

Progress Report

Use this master to create hard copy reports for


students to fill in so they can track their progress
or hand in progress reports. This is the same
information kept by the NEO in the students
records.

Use these masters as supplemental materials to KeyWords lessons on NEOs:

158

Sustained Practice

These masters contain additional practice


exercises for each lesson. Students can do the
exercises by typing in AlphaWord Plus. Use these
lesson-appropriate practice sheets as students
pass each lesson.

Congratulations
Certificate

Use this master to create certificates to reward


students as they pass each KeyWords lesson.

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KeyWords Resources for Teachers

Name of Handout

Description of Master

Keyboarding Cards

Use the cards in this document to provide


additional game-like activities for reinforcement,
introducing finger zones, or to provide additional
practice.

These other resources will help you use KeyWords in your classroom:
Configure NEO to
Support Students with
Unique Learning Needs

This document explains how to configure NEOs


for students with unique visual needs, motor
control needs, or physical needs.

KeyWords and
Renaissance Place
Integration QuickStart
Guide

This document explains how to add KeyWords


students and get students started on lessons,
change KeyWords settings in NEO Manager,
generate KeyWords reports in NEO Manager, and
synchronize KeyWords data with KeyWords RP so
you can use KeyWords RP reports.

Keyboarding: An
Essential Skill for the 21st
Century

This document summarizes keyboarding research


and outlines best methods for teaching this skill.

Keyboarding Ergonomi cs
Teaching students about proper posture and physical setup can help them
prevent health problems caused by typing.
Keep the following tips for wrists and hands in mind:
Keep wrists aligned, straight, and level.

Correct hand and wrist position

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KeyWords Resources for Teachers

Position chairs so students do not stretch to reach keys.


Wrists should not rest on anything.
Take periodic rest breaks.
Follow these guidelines to properly adjust equipment and posture:
The keyboard should be just below elbow height so the elbows are bent at
a 90 angle.
The chair should adjust so you can make it fit each student properly.
Forearms and thighs should be parallel to the floor when the student is
seated at the computer.
Feet should be flat on the floor or placed on a tilted footrest.
Position devices so that light does not reflect off the screen. Light reflecting
off the screen can cause eye strain and frustration.

Sample Lesson Pl an for Getti ng Started


This sample lesson plan teaches basic keyboarding information. You should
present this lesson to students at the beginning of keyboarding instruction.
Students will learn
Correct typing posture
Correct wrist placement
Home row keys
How to strike keys
How to strike the space bar
How to strike the enter key

Preparation
Prepare the following overhead transparencies from the masters (see
page 156):
Posture and Wrist Placement
Key Strike
Finger Zones
Home Row Keys

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Teaching the Lesson


Explain to students that there are several basic practices that promote
successful keyboarding. These practices include sitting with the proper
posture, holding the wrists properly, striking the keys correctly, and returning
the fingers to the home row keys. The following steps guide you through the
lesson.
1. Use the Posture and Wrist Placement overhead transparency to show the
correct typing posture and wrist placement. Have students sit at their
desks with their NEOs and demonstrate the correct posture and wrist
placement. Monitor students, helping them make needed adjustments.
2. Use the Key Strike overhead transparency to explain how to strike the
keys. Have students demonstrate and practice striking the keys. (Students
can use AlphaWord Plus on their NEOs to practice striking keys.) Monitor
students, helping them make needed adjustments.
3. Use the Home Row Keys overhead transparency to show the home row
keys. Have students place their fingers on the home row keys and
practice typing A S D F and then J K L ;. Repeat several times until
students can strike the home row keys correctly.
4. Use the Finger Zones overhead transparency to show students the
keyboard zones for each finger. Have students practice striking another
key with one finger and then returning that finger to the home row key.
Practice with several fingers. Monitor students, helping them make
needed adjustments.
5. Show students how to strike the enter key and the space bar. The right
little finger strikes the enter key and then returns to the home row key.
Either thumb is used to strike the space bar. Have students practice
striking the enter key and the space bar and returning to the correct home
row key. Monitor students, helping them make needed adjustments.
6. Explain to students that pressing the enter key moves the cursor to the
beginning of the next line and that pressing the space bar inserts a space
between words.
7. Review the basics of sitting properly, using correct wrist placement,
striking the keys, and always returning to the home row keys.

Lessons in KeyWords
The following tables list the lessons provided in KeyWords. Each table shows
the keys introduced in the lesson, the words and word patterns learned, and

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Lessons in KeyWords

the passing criteria for testing (based on the default goalssee page 138).

162

Lesson

Keys
Introduced

Words Learned

Patterns

Passing
Criteria

Pre-Test

none

none

none

none

1: Start Here!

none

none

none

0 WPM
0 errors

2: ASKL

ASKL

all
lass

as
alas

ask

sl
as
ll

alk
ask

8 WPM
12 errors

3: DJF

DJF

add
sad
flask
jasks

dad
lad
jalls

fall
salad
jad

fl
s (plural)

ad

10 WPM
12 errors

4: TH

TH

sat
slat
fast
flash
has
stalk
shall
half

flat
that
last
slash
sash
hall
stall

hat
has
ash
dash
talk
tall
salt

th
ast
st
ash

alt
sh
at

12 WPM
12 errors

5: GO

GO

dog
log
took
hag
lag
hot
told
fold
of
fool
toast
goat
load
hood

hot
jog
hook
sag
got
lot
gold
soft
off
soot
toad
float
ghost
stood

fog
look
shook
shag
shot
old
sold
aloft
stool
tooth
oat
soak
good
flood

ood
ook
og
ool
ost
ag
gh

old
oa
ot
oat
oad
oast

14 WPM
10 errors

NEO 2
User Manual

Lessons in KeyWords

Lesson

Keys
Introduced

6: EI

EI

eat
eagle
feel
goose
the
lid
lake
skate
kite
glide
jog
tight
seaside
elfish

seal
tea
feed
loose
these
solid
fake
jade
ashes
slide
sigh
light
steak
shoes

flea
eel
geese
lose
did
tie
gate
like
flashes
silk
high
flight
fish
headlight

ee
es
ed
ade
ie
ike
ide
igh
oe

ea
se
ake
id
ish
ite
ilk
ight

16 WPM
10 errors

7: PR

PR

hop
flop
hear
pear
deer
see
tire
tar
are
park
spark
shrill
thrill
hope
soap
apples
pillar
strolled
alligator

stop
shop
slop
ear
dear
fear
eager
read
free
tree
red
fled
fire
tried
jar
hard
large
ark
dark
lark
star
ill
starfish
earth
dope
rope
girl
radishes
horse
reddish
roses
spider
fairies
parrot
prettiest
sorriest
refrigerator

op
er
re
ar
ark
iest
oll
thr
str

ear
es
ee
ard
ope
or
ir
shr

16 WPM
10 errors

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K EY WO RD S W I RE L E S S S MA R T A P P L E T

Passing
Criteria

Patterns

163

.....
164

K EY WO RD S W I R E L E S S S M A R T A P P L E T
Lessons in KeyWords

Lesson

Keys
Introduced

8: QU

QU

rug
our
pour
shout
soup
just
judge
suds
quiet
quote
quart
squirt
said
sputter

hug
hour
flour
loud
gush
flush
fudge
three
quake
quail
equip
spirit
heartful

jug
four
out
house
hush
trust
pure
quit
quilt
quarter
quip
dollar
stutter

ug
out
ush
udge

ou
ouse
ust
qu

16 WPM
8 errors

9: WY

WY

day
away
stay
whole
flowers
plow
owls
laws
hurry
slowly

try
play
joyful
where
pillow
washed
hoot
you
story

way
playful
why
flow
yellow
yaks
write
furry
followed

ay
wh
ory
aw
wr

ow
ly
urry
wh

18 WPM
8 errors

10: Z?

Z?

zip
zeal
puzzles
drizzle
jazz

zipper
zigzag
Zeus
zero
zesty

pizazz
sizzle
gazes
lazy

azz
ze
zz

uz
izz
zi

16 WPM
8 errors

11: X.

X.

expert
explode
exit
express
reflex
exhale
explore
prefix
tax
ox
duplex
paradox
exasperate

extra
relax
apex
wax
fox

ex
ax
pre

ox
re

18 WPM
8 errors

Words Learned

Passing
Criteria

Patterns

NEO 2
User Manual

Lessons in KeyWords

Lesson

Keys
Introduced

12: C,

C,

ace
circus
quick
peck
cupcake
Chuck
cows
carrot
deck
choose

face
circles
pick
chew
cheetahs
quack
careless
exactly
crawls
chocolate

race
sticky
chick
juice
duck
call
could
clothes
cards

ace
eck
uck
ch

circ
ick
uice
cr

20 WPM
8 errors

13: MV

MV

love
move
my
arrive
very
wave
comics
pimples
pilgrim
mild

dove
grove
five
thrive
avoid
caramel
slime
rimful
shrimp
might

glove
am
give
alive
swerve
muddy
scratch
whim
limp
church

ove
av
im

ive
ve
ime

22 WPM
8 errors

14: NB

NB

big
rabbit
hobby
singing
beach
brave
bouquet
caution
extinction

bit
job
blue
dancing
brown
balloons
barley
explosion

nibble
cob
wobbles
bang
building
blossom
subway
motion

ob
br
ld
bbl
in
sion

ub
bl
bb
by
ion

22 WPM
8 errors

15: " ' !

"'!

14 WPM
8 errors

16: Numbers

1234567
890

14 WPM
6 errors

Post-Test

none

none

none

none

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K EY WO RD S W I RE L E S S S MA R T A P P L E T

Passing
Criteria

Patterns

165

.....

K EY WO RD S W I R E L E S S S M A R T A P P L E T
Frequently Asked Questions

Frequently Asked Questions


Why cant I use the backspace key when using KeyWords?
Backspace is disabled because keyboarding research shows that students
need to learn the patterns of keystrokes uninterrupted by immediate
corrections. Disabling backspace benefits students because they can
concentrate on speed, not on correcting errors.

Why is there so much repetition of words in the practice passages?


Research has shown that speed and confidence increase more readily if
simple words are used and are repeated often. KeyWords offsets the
repetition by providing text with humor, poetry, and rhythmic chants.

Why are the passages so easy?


Easy practice material develops speed and typing fluency more effectively,
giving the student a feeling of confidence and a sense of success. Though
the passages are easy, they provide practice in all the needed key patterns.

Why is the sequence of key introduction so different from what I am used to in


other typing programs?
Many other typing programs are based on 1950s typing instruction.
KeyWords designers sensed the need for a more language-based program,
one that reinforces the development of a reading and writing vocabulary as it
teaches typing.
The content of the passages is based on word list analysis. High-frequency
words that help develop reading and writing vocabulary and spelling skills
were chosen for the practice material. KeyWords maximizes kinesthetic and
linguistic patterns, which is why it is the most efficient and enjoyable way to
learn to touch-type.

Why do the students learn the ASKL keys first?


Two design principles distinguish KeyWords from all other keyboarding
programs: the application of kinesthetic (tactile, sensory) patterning and the
application of linguistic (language) patterns in all skill-building activities.
When students are learning the home row keys in the first lesson, they type
as. Students are typing enough on the left side of the home row keys to
ensure that their fingers are where they belong. Students are also using two
fingers that are next to each other to press two keys that are next to each
other in a left-to-right motion; this is a kinesthetic pattern. The action results in

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K EY WO RD S W I RE L E S S S MA R T A P P L E T

a word, as, which is also part of many other words, like fast; so as is also a
linguistic pattern. Learning the kinesthetic pattern generates a linguistic
pattern.
On the right side of the home row keys, there are no short words to teach.
However, if a student types as on the left side and then adds a k, the student
has typed ask: all flowing left to righta kinesthetic patternand all forming
a worda linguistic pattern. Similarly, by typing all, the student is introduced
to another right-side home row letter in a fully patterned manner.
Students learn the ASKL keys first because these letters are part of the home
row and they can be combined to form words. When new letters are added,
they are incorporated within kinesthetic and linguistic patterns. Such
patterning makes learning to touch-type very efficient and enjoyable.

What is the rationale for how the practice passages are sequenced?
Practice passages adhere to two important principles:
Patterned words are repeated enough times to build up a rhythm and
fluency that then transfers to typing the word within a phrase or sentence
where it is not repeated.
Passages progress from simpler to more complex phrase and sentence
patterns.
When the phrase and sentence patterning combines with the linguistic
patterning, student typing develops in an almost effortless manner.

Why arent my test scores updated when I retake an accuracy and speed builder
test in KeyWords?
Your test scores are only updated if both the words-per-minute score and the
accuracy (number of errors) improve. If only one score improves, the test
scores are not updated. For example:
Original test scores: 48 words per minute, 5 errors
Test 2 scores: 42 words per minute, 3 errorsscores are not updated
because you typed fewer words per minute.
Test 3 scores: 50 words per minute, 6 errorsscores are not updated
because you have more errors.
Test 4 scores: 50 words per minute with 3 errorsscores are updated
because both scores improved.

NEO 2
User Manual

167

P ASSWORDS ON NEO S AND IN NEO M ANAGER


These passwords
are meant to protect
against accidental or
mischievous data loss and
to provide a minimum level
of data privacy. They cant
prevent concerted, malicious
efforts to destroy data.

Three types of passwords may be used on NEOs or in NEO Manager:


the master password
individual file passwords
send list passwords

The Master Password


The master password is required when you change certain settings on a NEO
(for example, when you turn Calculator or Spell Check on or off). The master
password also allows you to create individual file passwords.
You can find out the default master password by contacting Technical
Support, but its easierand more secureto specify your own using the
NEO Manager System settings.
Follow these steps to change the system settings for connected NEOs. For
more information about the system settings, see page 182.
1. Start NEO Manager on your computer (see page 14) and connect your
NEO (see page 8) or the SmartOption Mobile Lab.
2. In NEO Manager, click the Settings tab.
3. Click System in the Settings List A.

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PASSWORDS ON N E O S AND IN N E O M ANAG ER

4. Check the Master Password box B. (You might need to scroll down to
see this setting.)
5. Enter the master password that you want to use on connected NEOs C.
Note: When you change this setting, notice that NEO Manager
automatically checks the System box on the left A. If you remove the
check mark from this box, changes you make to settings wont be sent to
your NEO.
6. Click the Send List tab and verify that the master password setting
change is listed on the Send List tab.
7. If you have a SmartOption Mobile Lab and you want to send the change
to some, but not all, of the NEOs, click Select Devices. Check the
numbers that you want to send the text to, then click OK. (To send to all
connected NEOs, skip this step.)
8. Click Send. If you have set a send list password (see page 194), you must
enter the password and click OK.

File Passwords
If you enable file passwords, you can set passwords for individual files. For
more information, see About File Passwords on page 71.

Send List Passwords


In NEO Manager, you can require a password whenever anyone tries to use
the software to send changes to NEOs (files, setting changes, or SmartApplet
changes). For more information, see Requiring a Password for Changes
Sent to NEOs on page 194.

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169

C HANGING S ETTINGS FOR NEO AND S MART A PPLETS


This chapter describes the settings you can change for your NEOs. You can
change many of these settings in the Control Panel on each NEO. You can
also use the NEO Manager software to change the same settings on all
connected NEOs.

Checking System S t a t u s o n a N E O
For a quick view of the current settings on a NEO, check the system status to
see this information:
System version
Language
Current file youre in
Cable speed (for text transfers to your computer)
Keyboard layout
Auto Repeat setting
Sticky Keys setting
File passwords setting
The system status
for a NEO with an
ISO (European)
keyboard differs slightly from
the one shown here.

Follow these steps to check system status:


1. Press option--V to see a screen like the sample below.

2. Press any key to exit the screen and return to your file.

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C HANGING S ETTINGS FOR N E O AND S MAR TA PPLETS


Changing Settings Using the NEO Control Panel

Changing Settings Using the NEO Control Panel


How t o Change Setti ngs Usi ng the Control Panel
Follow these steps to change settings for the NEO and its SmartApplets
within the Control Panel. For more information, see About the Settings in the
Control Panel on page 172.
1. Press applets, scroll the list to select Control Panel, then press enter.

2. Scroll to select the option you want to set and press enter.
3. Some settings, such as turning Calculator or Spell Check on and off,
require that you enter the master password to authorize the change. You
can set the master password using the System settings in NEO Manager
(see page 168) or contact Technical Support to get the default master
password. If youre asked to enter the master password, type it and press
enter.
4. Follow the instructions on the screen until youre satisfied with the setting.
5. Press esc to return to the previous screen. You might need to press esc
several times to return to Control Panel or the SmartApplets menu.

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Changing Settings Using the NEO Control Panel

About t he Setti ngs in the Control Panel


The following settings are available in the NEO Control Panel.

You need the master


password to change
the spell check
settings. Use the System
settings in NEO Manager to
set this password; see
page 168.

Spell Check Settings


Spell check has its own settings in the NEO Control Panel. When you select
the spell check settings, you will be asked to enter the master password.

Setting Name

What It Does

Turn spell check OFF/ON

This setting acts like a switch or toggle. When you


choose this setting and press enter, if spell check
was on, it will be off; if it was off, it will be on.

Turn add words to user


dictionary ON/OFF

By changing this setting, you are choosing whether


users can add words to the user dictionary while
doing a spell check in AlphaWord Plus. If spell
check finds a word that isnt in its dictionary, but the
user knows that word is spelled correctly, the user
can usually press A to add that word to the user
dictionary so it isnt marked as misspelled again in
the future. If you have turned off this ability, the user
cannot add the word to the user dictionary. To
change the setting, simply move the cursor next to
it and press enter to change it from on to off or
from off to on.

Delete user dictionary

When you choose this setting and press enter, you


can delete the user dictionary. When you do this, all
words that have been added to the spell check
dictionary on this NEO will be deleted. Spell check
will question those words again during future spell
checks.

Add new word to user


dictionary

When you choose this setting and press enter, you


can add words to the user dictionary one at a time.
Use this feature to add words that you use often but
that spell check marks as misspelled.

Another way to update the user dictionary on NEOs is to create a text file on
your computer and use NEO Manager to replace the user dictionary on your
NEOs with the words in the text file. See page 35.

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Changing Settings Using the NEO Control Panel

AlphaWord Plus Settings


AlphaWord Plus also has its own settings in the NEO Control Panel:

Setting Name

What It Does

Other Ways to Change This

Turn show marks


in files ON/OFF

When you turn show marks on, in


AlphaWord Plus you will see
for each
carriage return (enter), and youll see
for each tab that you type in your file (see
the example on the next page). If show
marks is off, carriage returns are not
shown (except as line breaks), and tabs
are shown as spaces. To change the
setting, move the cursor next to it and
press enter to change it from on to off or
from off to on.

Press option--K in AlphaWord


Plus. In the screen that appears,
press 3 to change the show marks
setting. Then, press esc.

This setting is normally off, so passwords


arent required to open AlphaWord Plus
files. If you turn this setting on, you must
enter the files password or the master
password when you open a file by
pressing the file key or selecting a
named file. When you first turn this
setting on, the password for all files is
write. Use the next setting to set
individual file passwords.

Press ctrl-option--P in
AlphaWord Plus; then, enter the
master password to change the
setting. Press esc to go back to
AlphaWord Plus.

Change a
specific file
password

When file passwords are on or enabled


as described above, you can use this
setting to change the password for each
file. When you select this setting and
press enter, youll see a list of files 18
plus any named files you have on the
NEO. Move the cursor next to a file, press
enter, and enter the current password
once and the new password twice; then,
press enter.

Press option--P in the file that


needs its password changed. Enter
the current password, and then
enter the new password twice.

Reset all file


passwords

When file passwords are ON or enabled,


this setting changes all file passwords
back to the default password (write).
Simply highlight the setting and press
enter. Youll be asked to enter the master
password (see page 168).

In NEO Manager, click the


Settings tab, select AlphaWord
Plus on the left, check the File
Passwords box, and enter the
password that you want to use for
all files. Then, send the changes to
NEOs from the Send List tab.

Turn file
passwords
ON/OFF

NEO 2
User Manual

In NEO Manager, click the


Settings tab, select AlphaWord
Plus on the left, check the Show
Marks box, and click On or Off.
Then, send the changes to NEOs
from the Send List tab.

In NEO Manager, click the


Settings tab, select AlphaWord
Plus on the left, check the
Passwords Enabled box, and click
On or Off. Then, send the changes
to NEOs from the Send List tab.

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Changing Settings Using the NEO Control Panel

When the Show Marks setting is on for AlphaWord Plus, tabs appear as right
arrows and carriage returns appear as return arrows as shown below.

FUNDRAISING EFFORTS
as of April 15th
Jan Feb Mar Apr
105 77
83
42
Regardless of the Show Marks setting, when you send files to your computer,
tabs and carriage returns transfer correctly to your computer.

Change Default AlphaWord Font


This Control Panel setting allows you to choose the font size you want to use
for AlphaWord Plus files. For more information, see page 27.

Turn Calculator Off


To turn NEOs Calculator SmartApplet off, move the cursor next to this
Control Panel setting and press enter. Then, enter the master password (see
page 168) and press enter.
There are other ways to turn the Calculator off for NEOs or to turn it back on:
In AlphaWord Plus, press ctrl--C. Enter the master password (see
page 168).
Press applets to see the SmartApplet menu. Move the cursor next to
Calculator and press ctrl--L. Enter the master password (see
page 168). The
symbol appears next to Calculator in the list to show it
has been disabled.
In NEO Manager, click the Settings tab, click Calculator on the left, check
the Disable this SmartApplet box on the right, and click Yes or No. Then,
send the changes to your NEOs from the Send List tab.

Two-Button On Option
In NEO Manager, the
Two-Button On
Option is in the
system settings. See
page 181 to change the
settings or page 182 for a list
of system settings.

174

Normally, NEO turns on when you press the on/off button. If your NEO often
gets turned on accidentally, perhaps because the button is pressed when you
carry the NEO in a bag or backpack, you can enable the two-button on option
to require you to press on/off and enter together to turn NEO on. After you
select this Control Panel setting, press enter to enable it (if it was disabled) or
disable it (if it was enabled).

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Changing Settings Using the NEO Control Panel

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C HANGING S ETTINGS FOR N E O AND S MAR TA PPLETS

Set Screen Contrast


Use this Control Panel setting to set the screen contrast. After you select this
setting, you can press to darken the screen or to lighten it. When youve
finished, press esc.

Keyboard Command Reference List


Use this Control Panel setting to see a list of keyboard commands you can
use on the NEO. For a list of keyboard commands, see page 232.

You can view a list of


international
characters and find
out how to type them by
pressing ctrl-H in AlphaWord
Plus and selecting
International from the help
topic list.

View Keyboard Layout


Use this Control Panel setting to see where keys are on the keyboard with the
current selected keyboard layout. This is helpful if youve chosen a layout
other than the standard layout (QWERTY). To set keyboard layout, use the
Change KeyBoard Layout setting under Change KeyBoard Settings. (For
more information, see Change Keyboard Settings on page 176.)
Press shift to see what characters are available when you hold down the shift
key and type. Press option to see what special characters you can type while
holding down that key. (For more about international and special characters,
see page 236.)

Display Battery Status


Use this Control Panel setting to see the state of the battery charge, both as a
graphic and a percentage. Then, press any key to leave the battery status.
Another way to check the battery charge is to press ctrl--B while working
on the NEO.

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Changing Settings Using the NEO Control Panel

Change Keyboard Settings


There are several keyboard settings in the NEO 2 Control Panel:

Setting Name
Change
keyboard
layout

What It Does

Other Ways to Change This

This sets the keyboard layout you are using. Press


the number key that represents the layout you want
to use. Then, press esc.
QWERTY: the standard layout used on computer
keyboards.
DVORAK: a scientifically designed keyboard layout
that requires much less finger reaching and
stretching for the most commonly used keys, and
results in faster and easier typing.
RIGHT (one hand): a layout that allows people
who type only with the right hand to type faster.
LEFT (one hand): a layout that allows people who
type only with the left hand to type faster.

Press option--L. Then, press the


number that represents the keyboard
layout you want and press esc.
In NEO Manager, click the Settings
tab and click System on the left.
Then, check the Keyboard Layout
box on the right and choose a layout
from the drop-down list. Send your
changes to NEOs on the Send List
tab.

For pictures of the layouts, see the keyboard


examples after this table.
Note: If you change the keyboard layout, when you
use keyboard commands, note that although the ctrl,
option, , and shift keys stay where they are, the
letter keys used in commands may have moved.
Change slow
keys setting

Turn sticky
keys ON/OFF

176

Use this setting to increase or decrease the time you


must hold down a key before the character appears
on the screen (0.0 means the delay is off). Press the
up and down arrow keys to increase or decrease the
time in tenths of a second. When youve finished,
press esc. This setting is useful for someone who
has unsteady hands or difficulty targeting specific
keys.

Press ctrl-option--K while working


on the NEO. Then, use the up and
down arrow keys to increase or
decrease the delay. Press esc when
youve finished.

Use this setting if it is difficult for you to perform


keyboard commands because you cannot hold
multiple keys down at the same time. When sticky
keys is on, users can press one key at a time to type
keyboard commands that use the shift, ctrl, option, or
keys. For example, to open a file in AlphaWord
Plus, you could press , let it go, and then press O if
sticky keys is on. To change the setting from on to off
or off to on, simply move the cursor next to it and
press enter.

Press option--K while working on


the NEO. Next, press 2 to change the
sticky keys setting from on to off or off
to on. Then, press esc.

In NEO Manager, click the Settings


tab and click System on the left.
Then, check the Slow Keys box, click
On, and enter the delay in the Slow
Key Delay field. Send your changes
to NEOs on the Send List tab.

In NEO Manager, click the Settings


tab and click System on the left.
Then, check the Sticky Keys box and
click On or Off. Send your changes to
NEOs on the Send List tab.

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Changing Settings Using the NEO Control Panel

on/off

file 1

~
`

file 2

@
2

!
1

alt
option

control

{
[
:
;

<
,

>
.

esc

delete

applets

send

back
space

+
=

P
L

end

_
-

O
K

home

)
0

I
J

clear
file

find

(
9

U
H

spell
check

*
8

Y
G

print

&
7

T
F

file 8

^
6

R
D

file 7

%
5

shift

file 6

file 5

$
4

W
A

caps lock

file 4

#
3

tab

Some language
versions of NEO do
not support
alternate keyboard layouts.
The examples shown are US
layouts.

file 3

}
]

|
\
enter

"
'
shift

?
/

cmd

The standard QWERTY keyboard layout

on/off

file 1

~
`
tab

caps lock

file 2

@
2

!
1

file 4

$
4

<
,

alt
option

G
D

spell
check

*
8

F
I

print

&
7

Y
U

file 8

^
6

P
E

:
;

file 7

%
5

>
.

file 6

file 5

#
3

"
'

shift

control

file 3

(
9

end

{
[

R
T

home

)
0

C
H

clear
file

find

?
/

esc

delete

+
=

|
\
enter

_
-

send

back
space

}
]

L
N

applets

shift

cmd

The Dvorak keyboard layout

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Changing Settings Using the NEO Control Panel

on/off

file 1

~
`
tab

file 2

}
]

{
[

file 4

shift

alt
option

U
D

file 8

Y
C

"
'

file 7

_
-

file 6

file 5

?
/

:
;

caps lock

control

file 3

R
T

end

@
2

>
.

A
I

home

#
3

O
E

clear
file

find

$
4

S
H

spell
check

print

%
5

<
,

)
0

esc

delete

+
=

(
9

|
\
enter

&
7

*
8

send

back
space

!
1

^
6

applets

shift

cmd

The left one-handed keyboard layout

Search for Networks


When you use NEO 2 with a Renaissance Receiver, the first network
(Receiver) that you choose with NEO 2 is the one that is used by default the
next time you use the Responder SmartApplet.
If you want to search for a different computer/Receiver combination
(Network), move the cursor next to this setting in the Control Panel and press
enter. NEO 2 will find the Renaissance Receivers that are within range and
show you their names. Use the and arrow keys to highlight the new
Receiver you want to use. Then, press enter to connect to it.

About NEO 2
You can select this Control Panel setting to view information about your NEO,
including the system version and the version of other items that are unique to
NEO 2.

Wireless Security
Use this Control Panel setting to enter the encryption key if it is required for
NEO 2 to communicate with Renaissance Receivers. For more information,
contact Renaissance Learning.

Update Text2Speech Device


Use this Control Panel setting to send updates to an optional NEO
Text2Speech device. For more information, see the NEO Text2Speech User
Manual.

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Other Settings You Can Change on the NEO

Other Settings You Can Change on the NEO


You can also change some NEO settings that arent in the control panel, such
as auto repeat, transfer speed, and idle time. See the instructions below.

Changing the Auto Repeat Setti ng


The Auto Repeat setting is not in the Control Panel, but it is related to the
keyboard settings in the Control Panel.
Normally, when you are typing in AlphaWord Plus, any key that you hold down
will be repeated. If you want to turn this off, follow these steps:
1. Press option--K while working on the NEO.
2. Press 1 to turn auto repeat on or off.
3. Press esc to exit the screen and return to your work.
You can also change this setting in NEO Manager. Simply click the Settings
tab, click System on the left, check the Auto Repeat box, and click On or Off.
Send your settings to NEOs from the Send List tab.

Changing the Transfer Speed for Sending or Beaming Files


Although you cannot change the transfer speed for sending or beaming files
in the Control Panel, you can change it on individual NEOs for both USB
cable transfers and IR transfers. Changing the transfer speed is necessary
when your computer cannot accept text as fast as NEO can send it. Even on
newer, faster computers, some programs are slow to accept text, and you
must slow down your NEO transfer speed to transfer text into these programs.
To change transfer
speed on NEOs
using NEO Manager,
use the System settings. See
page 182.

NEO 2
User Manual

USB or Cable Connection Transfer Speed


1. Make sure your NEO is not connected to your computer. (You can change
the transfer speed only when the NEO is not connected.)
2. Press option--s and type the number for one of these speeds:

1: Very Slow. This is the slowest speed setting. It is compatible with


all machines and programs. It is especially recommended when you
use graphic-intensive programs.

2: Slow. This setting is compatible with all machines and most


programs.

3: Fast. This is the default speed, which usually works well with most
computers.

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Other Settings You Can Change on the NEO

4: Fastest. This setting provides the quickest transfers. However,


some word processing programs may lose data when files are
transferred using this speed, so you might want to experiment to see
which speed works best for you.

Beaming (IrDA) Transfer Speed


1. Make sure your NEO is not connected to your computer. (You can change
the transfer speed only when the NEO is not connected.)
2. Press ctrl-option--S and type the number for one of these options:

1: Fastest speed. This setting provides the quickest IR transfers.


However, some programs may lose data when files are transferred
using this speed, so you might want to experiment to see which speed
works best for you.

2: Compatibility speed. This setting is compatible with all computers


and most programs.

Changing the NEO Idle Ti me


To change how long the NEO must be idle before it shuts down automatically,
follow the steps below.
Note that this does not change the idle time when the Accelerated Reader or
Responder SmartApplets are open. The Accelerated Reader idle time is 10
minutes, and the Responder idle time is 30 minutes.
To change idle time
on NEOs using NEO
Manager, use the
System settings. See
page 182.

1. Press option--T.
2. Press the up arrow key to increase the number of minutes, or press the
down arrow key to decrease the number of minutes. You can choose any
number from 459 minutes.
3. Press esc to leave the idle time screen.

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U s i n g t h e N E O M a n a g e r S o f tw a r e t o C ha n ge S e t t i n gs
You can also use the NEO Manager software to change NEO system settings
and SmartApplet settings. The following pages tell you how to do this.

Changing System Set tings Using NEO Manager


Follow these steps to change the system settings for connected NEOs. For
more information about the system settings, see page 182.
1. Start NEO Manager on your computer (see page 14) and connect your
NEO (see page 8) or the SmartOption Mobile Lab.
2. In NEO Manager, click the Settings tab.
3. Click System
in the
Settings List
A.
4. Check the
settings you
want to
change B.
(You might
need to scroll
down to view
all the
settings.)
Then, make
changes to
the settings
as needed.

Note: When you change settings, notice that NEO Manager automatically
checks the System box on the left A. If you remove the check mark from
this box, changes you make to settings wont be sent to your NEO.
5. Click the Send List tab and verify that the settings you want to send
appear in the Send List.
6. If you have a SmartOption Mobile Lab and you want to send the changes
to some, but not all, of the NEOs, click Select Devices. Check the
numbers that you want to send the changes to; then, click OK. (To send to
all connected NEOs, skip this step.)
7. Click Send. If you have set a send list password (see page 194), you must
enter the password and click OK.

NEO 2
User Manual

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Using the NEO Manager Software to Change Settings

About t he System Sett ings


The table below lists the System settings you can change in NEO Manager.
(It does not include the settings for specific SmartApplets.)
You can change many of these same settings in the Control Panel on each
NEO. See page 171 to change the settings and page 172 to find out more
about the settings.

Setting

What It Does

Startup
SmartApplet

Lets you designate which SmartApplet starts automatically when you turn on your
NEO. If you dont set a startup SmartApplet, NEO will go to the SmartApplets list
instead when you turn it on.

Auto Repeat

Sets whether keys repeat when held down. The delay before keys repeat is affected
by the Slow Keys setting. If the Slow Keys setting is greater than one second, then
that delay also determines how long NEO waits before repeating a key that is held
down.

Sticky Keys

Sets whether you must hold keys down together for keyboard commands or
whether you can press them sequentially. For example, to copy text, you would
normally select it and then press ctrl and C at the same time. However, if the sticky
keys setting is on, you could select the text, press ctrl and let go, and then press C.
This is useful for those who have difficulty pressing more than one key at the same
time. The sticky keys setting affects key combinations that include the shift, option,
, or ctrl keys.

Keyboard
Layout

Lets you select alternate keyboard layouts (such as Dvorak). For more about the
keyboard layouts available, see Change Keyboard Settings on page 176.

Idle Time

Sets the length of time that a NEO can be idle before turning off automatically (459
minutes). Note that this idle time does not apply when the Responder or
Accelerated Reader SmartApplets are running on NEO 2. If the Responder
SmartApplet is running, the idle time is always 30 minutes. If the Accelerated
Reader SmartApplet is running, the idle time is always 10 minutes.

Slow Keys and


Slow Key Delay

Sets a time delay for holding down a key before the character appears on the
screen. This is useful for those who have difficulty typing to ensure that brief
accidental key presses arent recorded.

Reset System
Font to Default

Sets your NEO to the four-line fixed-width system font instead of another font size
youve chosen. The font sizes that are available are:
System (a fixed-width font, 4 lines per screen)
Small (6 lines per screen)
Medium (5 lines per screen)
Large (4 lines per screen, but the font is proportional instead of fixed-width like
the System font)
Very Large (3 lines per screen)
Extra Large (2 lines per screen)
For more information, or to find out how to change the font on NEO 2, see page 27.

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Setting

What It Does

Transfer Speed

Sets the rate at which text is transferred to your computer when a NEO is connected
to the computer with a USB cable. You may need to change the transfer speed if
text is missing or jumbled when you send files. These settings are available:
Very Slow: This is the slowest speed. It is compatible with all computers and
programs, and its especially recommended for programs that use graphics
heavily.
Slow: This setting is compatible with all computers and most programs.
Fast: This the default speed. It usually works well with most computers.
Fastest: This setting provides the quickest transfers, but some word processing
programs may experience some data loss when files are transferred using this
speed. If you decide to try this speed, experiment to make sure it works for your
programs.

IR Transfer
Speed

Sets the rate at which text is transferred to your computer when NEO is beaming to
the computer. As with the cable transfer speed, you may need to change this setting
if you notice missing or jumbled characters when you beam files to your computer.
These settings are available:
Fastest speed: This setting provides the quickest IR transfers. However, some
programs may experience some data loss when files are transferred using this
mode.
Compatibility speed: This setting is compatible with all computers and most
programs.

Master
Password

Lets you set a new master password for your NEO(s). The master password is
required when you make certain changes on the NEO itself, such as enabling or
disabling SmartApplets, changing spell check settings, enabling file passwords for
AlphaWord Plus, changing or resetting those file passwords, or changing teacher
options in KeyWords Wireless. If you have enabled file passwords for AlphaWord
Plus, you can also use the master password as a substitute for any AlphaWord Plus
file password.

Printer
Selection

Doesnt apply to NEO, but is provided for compatibility with other devices.

Two Button On
Mode

Lets you specify that two keys must be pressed at the same timeenter and
on/offto turn your NEO on. When this mode is on, pressing on/off alone does not
turn the NEO on. This helps prevent NEO from being turned on accidentally if the
on/off key is bumped.

Speech
Enabled

Lets you turn on the NEO Text2Speech feature for connected NEOs. For NEOs that
have an optional NEO Text2Speech device within range, text typed in AlphaWord
Plus is read aloud when this feature is on. To turn it on or off on the NEO itself,
press ctrl-J and change the first option.

NEO 2
User Manual

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Using the NEO Manager Software to Change Settings

Changing SmartApplet Setti ngs


Like the System settings, the settings for each SmartApplet can be changed
either in the NEO Control Panel or in NEO Manager. Some settings are
different in the two locations.
The number of settings for each SmartApplet varies. AlphaWord Plus, for
example, has several settings; some other SmartApplets have only one.
If you have a SmartOption Mobile Lab, you can only change settings for
SmartApplets that are installed on all connected NEOs or for SmartApplets
that you have just chosen to install. Only these SmartApplets are shown in
the Settings list.
Follow these steps to change SmartApplet settings using NEO Manager:
1. Start NEO Manager on your computer (see page 14) and connect your
NEO (see page 8) or the SmartOption Mobile Lab.
2. In NEO Manager, click the Settings tab.
3. Click the SmartApplet in the Settings List on the left A.
4. Check the settings you want to change B; then, make your changes to
the settings.

Note: When you change settings, notice that NEO Manager automatically
checks the corresponding SmartApplet check box on the left A. If you
remove the check mark from this box, changes you make to those
settings wont be sent to your NEO.
5. Click the Send List tab and verify that the settings you want to transfer
appear in the Send List.

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6. If you have a SmartOption Mobile Lab and you want to send the changes
to some, but not all, of the NEOs, click Select Devices. Check the NEOs
that you want to send the changes to; then, click OK. (To send to all
connected NEOs, skip this step.)
7. Click Send. If you have set a send list password (see page 194), you must
enter the password and click OK.

About t he SmartApplet Settings Available i n NEO Manager


AlphaWord Plus Settings
Some of these
settings can also be
changed in the NEO
Control Panel. You cant set
file size limits in the Control
Panel, but you can set
passwords for individual files
instead of setting the same
password for all files. For more
information, see page 173.

You can estimate


page lengths using a
character count of
2,048. A page is
approximately 2,048
characters, though page
length can be affected by
printer and program settings
on your computer.

NEO 2
User Manual

AlphaWord Plus has its own settings that you can control through NEO
Manager:

Setting:

What It Does:

Disable This
SmartApplet

If checked, this setting prevents the user from using


AlphaWord Plus. See page 187.

Passwords
Enabled

Enables the use of individual file passwords in AlphaWord


Plus. See page 71. When teachers share a SmartOption
Mobile Lab, it is helpful to enable file passwords and teach
students to password-protect their files. When you first
enable passwords, all file passwords are set to write. To
set unique file passwords, see page 72.

File Passwords

Specifies a common password for all AlphaWord Plus


files. See page 72.

Maximum File Size


(in characters)

Set by default to 51,200 characters (about 25 pages). The


highest maximum file size allowed is 102,400 characters
(about 50 pages). For more about size limits and checking
file sizes, see page 46. When working with large files, you
might notice some performance issues, depending on the
number of SmartApplets on the NEO, the number of files,
the size of files, and data on the NEO.

Minimum File Size


(in characters)

Set by default to 512 characters (approximately a quarter


of a page). The minimum size limit ensures that a certain
amount of space is reserved on the NEO for each file. For
more about size limits and checking file sizes, see
page 46.

Show Marks

Sets whether to display arrows where there are tabs and


carriage returns. See the example on the next page.

Delete All Files

Deletes all AlphaWord Plus files on connected NEOs,


including files 18 and named files that arent in files 18.

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Using the NEO Manager Software to Change Settings

When the Show Marks setting is on for AlphaWord Plus, tabs appear as right
arrows and carriage returns appear as return arrows as shown below.

FUNDRAISING EFFORTS
as of April 15th
Jan Feb Mar Apr
105 77
83
42
When you have Show Marks turned off, tabs and carriage returns appear as
spaces on the screen. Regardless of the Show Marks setting, when you send
files to your computer, tabs and carriage returns transfer correctly to your
computer.

Spell Check Settings


Spell Check also has its own settings that you can control through NEO
Manager:

Setting:

186

What It Does:

Disable this
SmartApplet

Prevents users from performing spell checks.

Allow adding words to


dictionary

Allows users to add words to the custom user


dictionary so they are not flagged by a spell check
again in the future.

Delete user dictionary

Deletes the custom user dictionary on all connected


NEOs.

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User Manual

Using the NEO Manager Software to Change Settings

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C HANGING S ETTINGS FOR N E O AND S MAR TA PPLETS

Beamer Settings
Beamer has these settings in NEO Manager:

Setting

What It Does

Disable this
SmartApplet

Prevents users from using the Beamer SmartApplet.

Permit Send

Determines whether users are allowed to beam files


to another NEO.

Warn if Overwriting
Clipboard

When a NEO receives a beamed file, this setting


determines whether the NEO will warn the user if the
incoming file is about to overwrite what is currently in
the NEOs clipboard.

Send to Palm Device


as AlphaWord

When a NEO beams a file to a Palm device (including


Danas), this setting determines the format of the sent
file. If this setting is on, the file will be sent as an
AlphaWord file. If it is off, the file will be sent in Memo
Pad format.

Require Master
Password

Determines whether the master password is required


to change Beamer settings on the NEO itself in the
Control Panel. This is helpful if you want to prevent
students from changing Beamer settings, especially if
youve decided to turn off the Permit Send setting.

KeyWords Wireless Settings


For information about the KeyWords settings in NEO Manager, see page 143.

Disable This SmartApplet Setting


Every SmartApplet includes the Disable This SmartApplet setting. You can
check this box to disable the SmartApplet for connected NEOs so it cannot be
used. (To find out how to disable SmartApplets right on the NEO, see
page 77.) For example, you might disable Calculator if you want to prevent
access to electronic calculations during a quiz or math assignment.

Restor ing Defaul t Settings


How to Restore the Default SmartApplet and System
Settings
By following the steps below, you can restore the default settings for one
SmartApplet or all SmartApplets on the connected NEOs. To see what the

NEO 2
User Manual

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Using the NEO Manager Software to Change Settings

default settings are, see page 189.


1. Start NEO Manager on your computer (see page 14) and connect your
NEO (see page 8) or the SmartOption Mobile Lab.
2. In NEO Manager, click the Settings tab.
3. If you want to restore settings for just one SmartApplet (not all), click the
SmartApplet in the Settings List on the left A.
4. Click Restore Defaults B.

5. Click an option to choose whether to restore the default settings for just
the selected SmartApplet or for all SmartApplets (including the System
settings). Then, click OK.
If you chose to restore default settings for just one SmartApplet, that
SmartApplet and all settings will be checked. If you chose to restore
default settings for all SmartApplets, all of them will be checked, including
the System settings. All settings will be changed to the default settings.
6. Click the Send List tab and verify that the settings you want to transfer
appear in the list.

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7. If you have a SmartOption Mobile Lab and you want to send the changes
to some, but not all, of the NEOs, click Select Devices. Check the NEOs
that you want to send the changes to; then, click OK. (To send to all
connected NEOs, skip this step.)
8. Click Send. If you have set a send list password (see page 194), you must
enter the password and click OK.

Table of Default Settings


These are the default settings for the NEO system and SmartApplets.

Setting Name

Default

System settings
Startup SmartApplet

None (before changes, AlphaWord Plus is


the Startup SmartApplet on NEOs)

Auto Repeat

On

Sticky Keys

Off

Keyboard Layout

QWERTY

Idle Time

4 minutes

Slow Keys

Off

Slow Key Delay

0 seconds

Reset System Font to Default

Off

Transfer Speed

Fast

IR Transfer Speed

Fastest

Master Password

***** (Set your own)

Printer Selection

HP LaserJet/DeskJet

Two Button ON Mode

Off

Speech Enabled

No

AlphaWord Plus settings

NEO 2
User Manual

Disable this SmartApplet

No

Passwords Enabled

Off

File Passwords

write if passwords are enabled (by default


passwords are not enabled)

Maximum File Size

51,200 characters

Minimum File Size

512 characters

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Using the NEO Manager Software to Change Settings

Setting Name

Default

Show Marks

Off

Delete All Files

Off

Accelerated Reader settings


Disable this SmartApplet

No

AlphaQuiz settings
Disable this SmartApplet

No

Beamer settings
Disable this SmartApplet

No

Permit Send

On

Warn If Overwriting Clipboard

On

Send to Palm Device as ALPHAWORD

On

Require Master Password

Off

Calculator settings
Disable this SmartApplet

No

Control Panel settings


Disable this SmartApplet

No

KeyWords Wireless settings

190

Disable this SmartApplet

No

Delete All Students

No

Enable Student Offline Mode

No

Require Sequential Lessons

No

Pre-Test/Post-Test Level

Intermediate Typist

Set Custom WPM Goals

Set Custom Error Goals

12

Reset WPM and Error Goals to Default

Yes

Turn Require Correct Shift Key Off

No

Turn Home Row Confirmation On

No

Set Spaces between Sentences

NEO 2
User Manual

Using the NEO Manager Software to Change Settings

Setting Name

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C HANGING S ETTINGS FOR N E O AND S MAR TA PPLETS

Default

MathFacts in a Flash (offline) settings


Disable this SmartApplet

No

MathFacts in a Flash RP settings


Disable this SmartApplet

No

NEO Fonts
Disable this SmartApplet

No

Responder settings
Disable this SmartApplet

No

Spell Check settings


Disable this SmartApplet

No

Allow adding words to dictionary

On

Delete user dictionary

Off

Text2Speech Updater settings


Disable this SmartApplet

No

Thesaurus settings
Disable this SmartApplet

No

Wireless File Transfer settings


Disable this SmartApplet

No

Wireless Updater settings


Disable this SmartApplet

NEO 2
User Manual

No

191

U SING NEO M ANAGER TO M ANAGE NEO S


Earlier in this manual, you have learned how to use NEO Manager to do the
following:
Retrieve files from NEOs (see page 51).
Send files to NEOs (see page 63).
Change NEO system and SmartApplet settings (see page 181).
The sections below describe other ways that you can use NEO Manager to
manage your NEOs, simplify tasks, or send updates to NEOs.

Using Send Lists


What s a Send Li st?

Tips for teacher send


lists:
Create a startup
send list to help reset your
NEOs at the beginning of the
school year. The send list
could include a new master
password, enable file
passwords, and add the
necessary SmartApplets.
Set up different types of
send lists for different types of
changes, such as a setup
send list with SmartApplets
and a separate send list that
sends files used for class
work.
When you set up a send list
of files to send to NEOs, you
can include text in all eight file
spaces, even if you only check
one or two. When you open
the send list, you can choose
which files you want to use.

192

Whenever you use NEO Manager to send files, setting changes, or


SmartApplet changes to the NEO, you can choose to save your send list so
that its easy to make the same changes again later.
This is helpful when youre managing a group of NEOs in a SmartOption
Mobile Lab and you want to restore them to a specific configuration. For
example, you can use a send list to set all NEOs to your preferred
configuration quickly at the beginning of a school year, class period, or
marking period. Send lists are also helpful if you find yourself sending the
same changes to NEOs over and over.
Please note that send lists dont include any information from the Get/Print
AlphaWord Files and KeyWords tabs. This is because those tabs retrieve
information from NEOs instead of sending it.

NEO 2
User Manual

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U SING N E O M ANAGER TO M ANAGE N E O S


Using Send Lists

Saving Send Li sts


1. In NEO, make the file, setting, or SmartApplet changes that you want to
send to NEOs.
2. Click the Send List tab and verify that the changes you want to make are
in the list.
On Macintosh
computers, you may
need to click the
arrow next to the Save As
field to see the full dialog box
that allows you to choose the
location.

3. Click the File menu and choose Save Send List (or Save Send List As if
you already have a send list open).
4. In the dialog box that appears, go to the folder or drive where you want to
save the send list. Type a name for the send list; then, click Save.
The send list that youve saved is now open, so the name of the send list
now appears in the title of the NEO Manager window A.

Opening a Saved Send List


1. In NEO Manager, click the File menu and choose Open Send List.
2. Browse to the folder that contains the saved send list.
3. Click the send list you want to open. (Send lists use an .acf file extension.)
4. Click Open. The name of the send list will be shown in the title of the
window.
5. Click the Send List tab in NEO Manager to view the opened send list.
Important: If the saved send list includes setting changes for a SmartApplet,
and you are using or installing a newer version of the SmartApplet when you
open the send list, the setting changes wont be used. Setting changes only
apply to the version of the SmartApplet that you were using when you
selected the settings.
NEO 2
User Manual

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Using Send Lists

Cl osing a Saved Send Li st That Is Open


If you want to close a send list in NEO Manager, click the File menu and
choose Close Send List.

Requir ing a Password for Changes Sent t o NEOs


Normally, you dont need to enter a password to send changes to NEOs.
However, you can set a send list password so that no one can send changes
to your NEOs in NEO Manager without entering the password first. Follow
these steps to set a send list password:
If you forget your
send list password,
contact Technical
Support for assistance. Send
list passwords can only be set
in NEO Manager, and you
must know your old password
to set a new one or to clear the
existing password.

1. Windows computers: Click the Edit menu and choose Preferences.


Macintosh computers: Click the NEO Manager menu and choose
Preferences.
2. Click Set Send Password (Windows) or Set Password (Macintosh).
3. If you have set a send list password before and you need to change it,
enter the old password first in the field provided.
4. Enter the same new send list password in the two fields provided. Make a
note of this password.
5. Click OK.
6. Windows computers: Click OK again.
Macintosh computers: Close the Preferences dialog box.

Cl eari ng (Removing) a Send List Password


If you no longer want to use a send list password, you can clear it if you know
the current send list password. When you clear the send list password,
anyone using NEO Manager can send changes to your NEO(s) without
entering a password.
Follow these steps to clear the send list passwords:
1. Windows computers: Click the Edit menu and choose Preferences.
Macintosh computers: Click the NEO Manager menu and choose
Preferences.
2. Click Set Send Password (Windows) or Set Password (Macintosh).
3. Type the current password in the Old password field.
4. Leave the New password and Retype new password fields blank and click
OK.
5. Windows computers: Click OK again.
Macintosh computers: Close the Preferences dialog box.

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U SING N E O M ANAGER TO M ANAGE N E O S

Setting Preferences for the NEO Manager Software


NEO Manager has its own set of preferences. Follow these steps to change
them:
1. Windows computers: Click the Edit menu and choose Preferences.
Macintosh computers: Click the NEO Manager menu and choose
Preferences.
2. Click one of the options for the Printing preferences A, which affect
AlphaWord Plus files that you print out:

Print header information on first page. Prints the NEO number (or
NEO USB) and the file number on the first page only.

Print header information on all pages. Prints the NEO number (or
NEO USB), the file number, and the page number on all pages.

Do not print header information. Omits header information from all


pages.

A
B
C
D
E

3. Check the box below the print options if you want empty files to print as a
blank page B. This provides a useful visual clue if youre printing several
files from multiple NEOs.
4. If you want to set or change a password that will be required whenever
anyone sends changes to NEOs, click Set Send Password (Windows) or
Set Password (Macintosh) C, enter the new password twice (and the old
password if necessary), and click OK.

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Resetting All Connected NEOs

On Macintosh
computers, some of
these settings have
slightly different names. For
example, Connection status
display setting is Connection
Status Display defaults to
open. However, the settings
do the same things on
Windows and Macintosh
computers.

5. Under the other options D, check the boxes for any of the settings youd
like to enable:

Use 8.3 naming convention: If this box is checked, when you save
files, NEO Manager will limit your file names to eight characters before
the dot and three after it (as in homework.txt). (The three characters
after the dot identify the file type, such as txt for text files.)

Connection status display setting: If this is checked, the connection


status at the bottom of the NEO Manager window will be open as soon
as you start NEO Manager. If the box is not checked, you can still view
the connection status by clicking the + (Windows) or (Macintosh) at
the bottom of the window. (The connection status shows how many
NEOs are connected and their status.)

Replace SmartApplets on device with SmartApplets from


Computer: When this is checked, if you choose to send a
SmartApplet to a NEO and the NEO already has it installed, the new
version of the SmartApplet from NEO Manager will overwrite the
version on your NEO. This means sending SmartApplets can take
more time, but you can be sure all your NEOs are using the same
version.
For example, if you have some NEOs with AlphaWord Plus and some
without, and you install AlphaWord with this preference checked, NEO
Manager will install AlphaWord Plus on all connected NEOs, even
those that already have it. NEO Manager overwrites the existing
version on those NEOs.

6. Use the drop-down list at the bottom of the dialog box E to choose
whether to use the default system software for NEO or a specific version.
Usually you would only use this preference with assistance from Technical
Support.
7. When you have finished making preference changes, click OK (Windows)
or close the dialog box (Macintosh).

Resetting All Connected NEOs


You can reset all connected NEO 2s to the configuration they had when you
first received them. This removes all text in files 18 on the NEOs, restores all
default settings, and removes any SmartApplets except for the standard
ones:
AlphaWord Plus
Responder

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Updating Your NEO Operating System or SmartApplets Using NEO Manager

Accelerated Reader
KeyWords Wireless
MathFacts in a Flash RP
If you want to reset
KeyWords students
only (delete them
from NEO Manager and
connected NEOs), see
page 149.

MathFacts in a Flash (offline)


Control Panel
Beamer
Calculator
The spell check, thesaurus, and font sizes are included with the standard
SmartApplets.
Resetting all devices is particularly useful when you have several NEOs and
you want to begin a new session or school year with a clean slate.
Follow these steps to reset all connected NEOs:
1. If you are resetting one NEO, make sure it is connected to the computer
(see page 8). If youre updating several NEOs in a SmartOption Mobile
Lab, make sure they are connected to the lab and the cart is connected to
your computer.
2. In NEO Manager, click the Setup menu and choose Reset All NEO
Devices.
3. A warning message about loss of data appears. Click Yes (Windows) or
OK (Macintosh). NEO Manager will send a new send list that contains the
factory default settings to the connected NEOs.

Updating Your NEO Operating System or SmartApplets


Using NEO Manager
When you install a new version of NEO Manager, and a new update is
available to the NEO operating system or to one or more SmartApplets, there
are two ways to update your NEOs. These methods are described below.

How t o Update NEOs without Preserving Work


If you do not need to save AlphaWord Plus files or KeyWords student work,
you can follow the steps below to update your NEOs.
For a SmartOption Mobile Lab, this procedure will take about 4560 minutes
for NEO 2s.

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Updating Your NEO Operating System or SmartApplets Using NEO Manager

Important: This procedure removes all AlphaWord Plus files and student
work in KeyWords and AlphaQuiz, and it restores all default settings. The
procedure also removes any SmartApplets that arent in the standard set.
The NEO operating system and SmartApplets will be updated to the versions
you have available in NEO Manager. If you want to follow these steps, make
sure you retrieve any files you need and complete all KeyWords instruction
before updating the NEOs.
1. Start NEO Manager on your computer (see page 14) and connect your
NEO (see page 8) or the SmartOption Mobile Lab.
2. In NEO Manager, click the Setup menu and choose Reset All NEO
Devices.
3. A warning message about loss of data appears. Click Yes (Windows) or
OK (Macintosh). NEO Manager will send a new list that contains the
factory default settings and updates to the connected NEOs.

How t o Update NEOs Whil e Pr eserving Al phaWord Pl us Fi les and


KeyWords Data
These steps allow you to update your NEOs and still keep all AlphaWord Plus
files and your students KeyWords work. While this procedure will make the
updates you need, the standard procedure above is the best practice.
For a SmartOption Mobile Lab, this procedure takes about 24 hours for
NEO 2s.
1. Start NEO Manager on your computer (see page 14) and connect your
NEO (see page 8) or the SmartOption Mobile Lab.
2. In NEO Manager, click the SmartApplets tab.
3. For each SmartApplet that you want to update, click the SmartApplet
name and click Add =>. The NEO operating system will also be updated.
4. Click the Send List tab.
5. If you have a SmartOption Mobile Lab and you want to send the changes
to some, but not all, of the NEOs, click Select Devices. Check the NEOs
to which you want to send the text, then click OK. (To send to all
connected NEOs, skip this step.)
6. Click Send.

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Getting Information about Your NEO(s)


To get SmartApplet
information, you can
also click the
SmartApplets tab, choose
the File menu, and choose
Get SmartApplet Info. See
page 82.

Follow these steps to get more information about your connected NEO(s):
1. Click the File menu and choose Get NEO Info. A dialog box will open to
show you system information as well as information about each
SmartApplet on the NEO(s). The system information will include versions,
settings, and file information.
2. If you want to close the dialog box without saving the information, click
Close.
If you want to save the information in a text file, click Save (Windows) or
Save File (Macintosh). In the dialog box that opens, go to the folder
where you want to save the file, and type a name for the file. Click Save.

Getting Information About the AlphaHub in Your


SmartOption Mobile Lab
To see your AlphaHub version, click the Setup menu and choose Get
AlphaHub Version.

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B EAMING F ILES TO AND FROM NEO S


Beamer is a SmartApplet that lets NEO send text wirelessly to and from
another NEO. Beamer uses IrDA technology to transfer information in
seconds, without the use of cables, cords, or networks. The Beamer
SmartApplet is installed on your NEO when you receive it.
You will find the NEO infrared port A on the back of the NEO:

Beaming Files Between NEOs in AlphaWord Plus


If you have the Beamer SmartApplet, you dont have to have it open to beam
AlphaWord Plus files from one NEO to another. You can use commands to
send and receive files right within AlphaWord Plus. See Sending (Beaming)
Files to Other NEOs on page 60.

Beamer and the NEO Clipboard


Beamer uses the clipboard to receive data before placing it into a
SmartApplet such as AlphaWord Plus. If you already have data in the
clipboard, Beamer will warn you before receiving a beam. This gives you a
chance to save the data on the clipboard in another file before you agree to
receive the beam.
For example, text that you have copied from AlphaWord Plus may be in the
clipboard, and you may not have copied it into another file yet. The warning
gives you the chance to do this before overwriting the clipboard with the
beamed information.
If youre beaming frequently, you might not want to be warned about clipboard
data each time. In this case, you would turn this setting off in the Beamer
settings (see Changing Beamer Settings on page 201).

Cancelling a Beam
At any time, from any device, you can press esc to cancel either beaming or
receiving a file.

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B EAMING F ILES TO AND FROM N E O S

Changing Beamer Settings


The Beamer settings allow you to customize how the program works. You can
change these settings:
Choose whether to permit the NEO to send.
Choose whether NEO warns you if receiving data will overwrite whats on
the clipboard.
Choose whether to send to Palm OS devices in AlphaWord or Memo Pad
file format.
Choose whether to require a master password to change Beamer settings
on this NEO.
If youre an individual user using Beamer, you probably wont need to change
your settings very often. If youre using several NEOs in a group setting such
as a classroom, you might want more control over who can beam data and
how.
You can also change
Beamer settings
using NEO Manager.
Click the Settings tab and
click Beamer in the list on the
left; then, make your setting
changes. Be sure to send
them from the Send List tab.
This is the most efficient way
to change Beamer settings for
several NEOs connected to
your computer in a
SmartOption Mobile Lab.

Follow these steps to change Beamer settings:


1. On your NEO, press applets.
2. Use the arrow keys to move the cursor next to Beamer in the list; then,
press enter. The Beamer screen appears.

Select a Beaming function:


- Send
- Receive
- Settings
3. Move the cursor next to Settings and press enter.
4. Move the cursor next to the setting you want to change and press enter.
Since each setting has only two options, pressing enter automatically
chooses the option that isnt currently selected. For example, if you move
the cursor next to Permit Send: YES and press enter, the setting will
change to Permit Send: NO.
There are four Beamer settings:

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Permit Send determines whether this NEO is allowed to beam to


other devices. You can choose Yes or No. If you choose No, the
Send option is not available on the Beamer screen. This setting is
useful if you dont want students to beam files to each other.

Warn if overwriting clipboard affects what happens when you are


receiving a file beamed from another device and you already have

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Troubleshooting Beaming

something in your NEO clipboard. If this is set to Yes, NEO will ask if
you want to overwrite the clipboard before receiving the file.

The master
password can be set
using NEO Manager.
See page 168.

Send to Palm device as ALPHAWORD file or MEMO file


determines the format in which AlphaWord Plus files are sent to Palm
devices (such as Dana). You can send files in AlphaWord format or
Memo Pad format. Most Palm OS devices have the Memo Pad
program; AlphaWord is included on Dana and Dana Wireless devices.

Require master password determines whether the NEO user must


enter a master password after choosing Settings in Beamer. If this is
set to No, a password is not required to change the settings. If it is set
to Yes, you must enter the master password after you choose
Settings. It is a good idea to require the master password if you have
set Permit Send to No so that students cant beam files to each
other.

Troubleshooting Beaming
This section contains solutions for some issues you may encounter while
using Beamer.

I want to change a setting, but I dont know the master password.


To change the master password using the System settings in NEO Manager,
see page 168. You can also call Technical Support to get the default
password.

I dont see the Send option on my Beamer screen.


If the device has been set to prohibit beaming (see page 201), the Send
option wont appear on the beaming screen.

My NEO says it cant find a receiving device.


Bring the receiving device closer, make sure the infrared ports are pointing
toward each other, and make sure the receiving device is in the proper mode
to accept a beam. For Palm OS devices, you usually dont have to do
anything. For NEOs, you have to set up the NEO so that its ready to receive
the beam by pressing a keyboard command; see page 60.

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B EAMING F ILES TO AND FROM N E O S

I received an error when I tried to beam or receive a file.


You might receive an error if the transfer process was interrupted. There are a
few reasons why this might happen. For example, the person receiving the
beam might have cancelled the transfer before the beam was complete. Or,
users might have moved the devices being used, causing the infrared ports to
move out of alignment before the beam was complete. Try beaming the file
again.

I have data on the clipboard that I dont want to lose. What should I do?
If youre about to receive a beam, press esc to cancel receiving it. Then paste
the data in the clipboard into an AlphaWord Plus file. When youre ready to
receive the beam, press enter to overwrite the data on the clipboard. Be sure
that you dont select the AlphaWord Plus file where you pasted the data as
the file to receive the beam. You can also choose to append the data rather
than overwrite it. (Appending adds the data to the end of the file.)

I keep getting an invalid password message.


If the file you are sending is password-protected, you need to know the exact
password associated with that file in order to beam it. If you are receiving a
file, and your NEOs files are password-protected, you must know the exact
password for the receiving file to receive it.
If you dont know the file password(s), you can enter the master password
instead. To find out more about file passwords (including disabling them for a
NEO), see page 71. You can set the master passwords for NEOs using the
system settings in NEO Manager; see page 168.

I beamed a file with a password, but now that file doesnt have a password on the
receiving device.
If the sending device uses file passwords, but the receiving device doesnt,
the password associated with the file being beamed isnt sent.

What does the message could not find a sending device mean?
It means that Beamer on the NEO is ready to receive a beam from another
device, but it is not sensing any device that is sending anything.

What do I do if the file Im receiving is too big?


The device receiving the beam will accept as much data as it can and
truncate the file at the point where it cant receive any more. To work around
this, the person beaming the file should break up the file into separate files
and beam them separately.
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Troubleshooting Beaming

My friend beamed an AlphaWord Plus file to me, but Beamer didnt let me choose a
file to put it in. It automatically put it in a new file. What happened?
AlphaWord Plus on your NEO probably had not been initialized, meaning it
hadnt set itself up yet to receive beamed files. This can happen if you have a
brand new NEO, or if you have a new installation of AlphaWord Plus on a
NEO, and you started Beamer before ever starting up AlphaWord Plus.
All you need to do to initialize AlphaWord Plus is to start it. Do this before you
use Beamer again, and Beamer should give you the opportunity to choose a
file the next time its receiving a file.

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U SING THE NEO C ALCULATOR


NEO includes a basic calculator that can perform addition, subtraction,
multiplication, division, exponentiation, and scientific notation.

How to Use Ca lc ula tor


1. Turn on your NEO and press applets.
2. Use the arrow keys to move the cursor next to Calculator. Then, press
enter.
Note: The first time you use the Calculator SmartApplet, a help screen
may appear. Press esc to exit from it. You can press -H to view it again
when you want to see it.
3. Enter the formula you want to calculate. The table below shows you which
characters to use for each type of calculation; it also provides examples.

Use these operators...


+

...to perform these tasks


Add
Example: 89+91
Example: 15+16+17

Subtract
Example: 92
Example: 1005025

* or x

Multiply
Example: 2*5
Example: 45x2x8

Divide
Example: 18/2
Example: 100/2/10

Exponentiate (raise the first number to the


power of the second)
Example: 3^2
Example: 2^2^2

Calculate scientific notation


Example: 10e6
Example: 1.2e15

()

Construct more complex formulas


Example: (15*2)+10/4
Example: (25*3)(45/5)

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Pasting Calculations into AlphaWord Plus (Paper Tape)

4. Press = or enter to calculate the result.


If you begin the next
formula with an
operator (such as +
or *), the Calculator uses the
result from your previous
calculation as the first number
in the next formula. (This
doesnt apply to the e
operator.)

5. Press esc when youve finished.


The next time you use the Calculator, your previous calculations appear.
Press clear file to remove them.

Pasting Calculations into AlphaWord Plus (Paper Tape)


The NEO Calculator can record up to fourteen lines of calculations. Each new
calculation is added to the bottom of the list, and when you reach the
maximum number, older calculations are removed from the top of the list.
This is called the paper tape feature.
If you would like to copy a series of calculations into AlphaWord Plus, follow
these steps:
1. Press applets, move the cursor down to the Calculator in the list, and
press enter.
2. Enter a series of calculations.
3. Press shift--C to copy all calculations in the list. You should see the
calculations selected momentarily as they are copied. (If this does not
happen, your caps lock may be selected. Press the caps lock and try
again.)
If you prefer to copy
just the result of the
last calculation,
press ctrl-C or -C instead.

4. Press applets and select the SmartApplet that you want to paste the
calculations into.
5. Place the cursor in the SmartApplet where you want to paste the
calculations.
6. Press ctrl-V or -V.
You can also type a formula in AlphaWord Plus, copy it, then paste it into
Calculator to obtain the result.

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Turning Off the NEO Calculator

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USING THE NEO C ALCULATOR

Turning Off the NEO Calculator


There may be times when you dont want the Calculator SmartApplet to be
available, such as when students who have NEOs are doing math work. If you
want to turn off the Calculator on a single NEO, follow the instructions below.
If you want to turn off the Calculator for a group of NEOs using NEO
Manager, see page 77. You can also turn off the Calculator on a NEO in the
Control Panel (see page 77).

To Turn Off Calculator while Using Al phaWord Plus


1. Press ctrl--C.
2. Type the master password and press enter. (You can set the master
password for NEOs using the system settings in NEO Manager; see
page 168.)

To Turn Off Calculator from t he SmartApplets Menu


1. Press applets.
2. Move the cursor down next to Calculator.
3. Press ctrl--L. If the Calculator is on, this turns it off; if it is off, this turns
it on again. When the Calculator is disabled, appears next to it in the
SmartApplets list.

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T ROUBLESHOOTING
This chapter can help you troubleshoot some problems you may encounter
with your NEO or your NEO Manager software. If youre having a problem that
you dont see described here, visit our website or contact Technical Support.

NEO Troubleshooting
Nothing appears on the NEO screen when I turn it on.
If the screen is blank except for a flashing cursor in the upper-left corner, then
youre simply in an empty file. Start typing and characters should appear on
your screen.
If your screen is completely blank without a flashing cursor, check your
batteries by connecting your NEO to your computer with a USB cable. If the
NEO turns on when you connect it to a computer, you probably have one of
these problems:
Your alkaline batteries need to be replaced (see page 222).
Your alkaline batteries were not installed correctly. Reinsert the batteries,
making sure to have the + and ends as shown on the diagram inside the
battery door.
Your rechargeable battery pack was fully discharged and needs charging.
See page 3.

When I turn on my NEO, I see something other than the file that I expected.
The startup SmartApplet determines which program starts when you turn the
NEO on.
If the startup SmartApplet is AlphaWord Plus, your NEO places you in the file
you were last working in when you turned the NEO off. To change files, press
one of the numbered file keys.
If youve set a different startup SmartApplet, that SmartApplet will open when
you turn on the NEO. (See page 75 to change the startup SmartApplet right
on the NEO; see page 76 to change it using NEO Manager.)
If you do not have a startup SmartApplet specified, the SmartApplets list will
appear, with the cursor next to the last SmartApplet you worked in.

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TR O U B L E S H O O T I N G
NEO Troubleshooting

When I connect my NEO to my computer, I cant send any data, and my NEO screen
shows a file instead of the Attached to message.
Check these three things:
Examine the cable connectionsone may be loose.
Plug your USB cable into a different USB port on your computer.
Close the NEO Manager software if it is running on your computer. You
cant send text to a program on your computer when NEO Manager is
running.

When I send a file to my computer, some of the characters dont show up, or some
letters or words are missing.
This is probably a problem with the speed with which the NEO is sending the
data. Try these measures to solve the problem:
You can use the NEO
Manager software to
change the transfer
speed on several NEOs at
once. See page 181 to find
out how to change the system
settings, which include the
transfer speed.

Disconnect NEO from the computer and check the file transfer speed by
pressing option--S. Reset NEO to a slower setting (speed 1 is the
slowest).
Try using a different word processing program on your computer. Some
programs allow faster data transfer than others. If this solves the problem,
you can copy and paste the text back into your original program.
Adjust keyboard settings on your computer, experimenting with the key
repeat rate and the repeat delay rate. (On a Macintosh, adjust hardware
settings in System Preferences; on a Windows computer, adjust keyboard
settings in Control Panel.)

I try to type in a file, but no characters appear.


You might have the Slow Keys setting turned on. You can change the setting
in one of three ways:
Press ctrl-option--K and adjust the time delay.
On your NEO, press applets and choose the Control Panel SmartApplet.
Next, select Change keyboard settings, then Change slow keys setting.
Make changes as needed. (See page 176.)
In NEO Manager, select a Slow Keys setting from the System settings on
the Settings tab. See page 181 for more information.

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NEO Troubleshooting

My file (or the end of my file) is filled with garbage characters.


There are three ways you can deal with this situation:
If you have no useful text in the file, just press clear file to remove the
entire file.
If you have some data you would like to save, place the cursor where the
garbage characters start, press shift-end to select the garbage characters,
then press delete.
Send the file to your computer and cancel the transfer when garbage
characters appear.

When I transfer text to my Windows computer, the case of the characters is


reversed; all the lowercase characters show up as uppercase, and the uppercase
characters show up as lowercase.
The caps lock key on your computer was probably on when you sent the text
from NEO. Press caps lock on your computer keyboard to turn it off, and
then resend the file.

When I press a key, the wrong letter appears on the screen.


Your NEO is probably using a different keyboard layout. You can change the
keyboard layout in one of three ways:
Press option--L and select a layout.
On your NEO, press applets and choose the Control Panel SmartApplet.
Next, select Change keyboard settings, then Change keyboard layout.
Make changes as needed. See page 176.
In NEO Manager, select a layout from the System settings on the Settings
tab. See page 181 for more information.

My LCD screen broke. Is it covered under warranty? What should I do?


If the NEO malfunctions during the warranty period, repairs are covered.
However, a broken LCD screen is not considered a malfunction and is
therefore not covered under warranty. The LCD screen can be replaced;
contact Technical Support for pricing information and a Return Material
Authorization number.

Do I need antivirus software for my NEO?


Antivirus software isnt needed for your NEO.

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NEO Troubleshooting

What should I do if I spill something on my NEO?


If youve spilled water, follow these steps:
1. Remove all power sources (batteries, USB cable, AC adapter, and the
rechargeable battery pack).
2. Dry the NEO using a canned air dusting product or hair dryer (on air only
or low heat setting).
3. When the NEO is dry, reconnect the power sources and try turning the
NEO on.
4. If the NEO doesnt turn on or malfunctions, contact Technical Support.
If you spilled something other than water, contact Technical Support
immediately for assistance. Dont let the NEO sit for an extended period
before consulting Technical Support. The cleanup measures that Technical
Support will suggest arent likely to work if you dont deal with the spill soon
after it occurs.

When I try to send NEO 2 files to supported programs such as Google Docs, I see a
message that says Wireless File Transfer is not installed or disabled.
You cannot transfer files between NEO 2 and these supported programs if
you have removed Wireless File Transfer using NEO Manager or if you have
disabled Wireless File Transfer.
If you have deleted Wireless File Transfer and you want to use this feature,
you must use NEO Manager to reinstall Wireless File Transfer. Wireless File
Transfer is installed just like a SmartApplet; to install it, see Installing or
Updating SmartApplets on NEOs Using NEO Manager on page 78.
If you have disabled Wireless File Transfer, change the settings in NEO
Manager to enable it again. See page 77.

My Renaissance Place address cant be verified in the Renaissance Wireless


Server Utilitys Server Settings.
For troubleshooting tips, see the section on connecting client programs in this
Knowledge Base article:
http://support.renlearn.com/techkb/techkb/6303273e.asp.

My NEO is showing an error message.


First, try turning your NEO off and then on again. If the message is still there,
refer to our Knowledge Base at http://support.renlearn.com/techkb/ or contact
Technical Support.

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NEO Troubleshooting

The light on my Renaissance Receiver is amber, and my NEO 2s cant connect.


Follow these steps to try to solve the problem:
1. Start the Renaissance Wireless Server Utility:

Windows computers: In most Windows versions, you can find it in


the Start menu; for Windows 8, you can find it in the list of applications
available.

Macintosh computers: In your computers Applications folder, open


the Renaissance Wireless Server folder. Then, double-click
Renaissance Wireless Server Utility.

2. If the program asks you to log in, type 1234 and click OK. (This is the
default Administrator PIN. If you have changed the PIN, enter your new
PIN.)
3. Check the server status at the top of the screen. If it says the server is not
running, click Start. When the program asks for the Administrator PIN,
type 1234 (or the Administrator PIN you have set); then, click OK.
If the server is running, click Stop. The program will verify that the server
has been stopped; click OK. Click Start to restart it.
If the Receiver light still is not green, contact Technical Support.

When I use the Responder, Accelerated Reader, KeyWords Wireless, MathFacts in


a Flash RP, or MathFacts in a Flash (offline) SmartApplets on NEO 2, I dont seem
to be connected to the right Receiver.
As you join a session or start using one of these SmartApplets, youll be
asked if you want to stay connected to the Receiver. Answer no to this
question so that you can then choose a different Receiver to connect to.
You can also use the NEO 2 Search for Networks setting to choose a
Receiver. See page 171 to find out how to change Control Panel settings; see
page 178 for more information about the Search for Networks setting.

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NEO Manager Software Troubleshooting

NEO Manager Software Troubleshooting


When I click the plus sign (or arrow) to check connections, NEO Manager doesnt
show that any devices are currently connected.
If youre using a SmartOption Mobile Lab, make sure the power switch on
the back or side of the AlphaHub in the cart is turned on. A green light on
the front of the AlphaHub indicates that the power is on. Make sure your
computer is properly connected to the AlphaHub and that the USB cable
connecting the two is securely attached at both ends.
If youre using just one NEO, make sure the cable is securely connected at
the NEO and the computer.
Be patient. It can take up to thirty seconds for NEO Manager to recognize
NEOs connected to an AlphaHub and to display them in the connection
status area.
On a Windows computer, use the Device Manager to list hardware devices.
The AlphaHub will be in the Universal Serial Bus controllers section.

In Windows 2000 or XP: Click StartControl PanelSystem


Hardware tab, then the Device Manager button.

For Windows Vista: Click StartSettingsControl Panel


SystemDevice Manager.

For Windows 7: Click StartControl PanelDevice Manager.

For Windows 8: Press the Windows key and X together; then,


choose Device Manager in the menu that opens.

Try plugging the NEO or AlphaHub into a different USB port on your
computer. If a Hardware Wizard appears (Windows only), step through the
on-screen instructions completely, clicking Continue Anyway if a message
appears about Windows XP certification.

I have a NEO connected to a port on the AlphaHub, but when I check the
connections, the indicator is black instead of green.
Try plugging that NEO into the AlphaHub using a different hub cable.

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NEO Manager Software Troubleshooting

I cant remember the password that I set, and now I cant use NEO Manager to
configure my NEOs.
If youre referring to a master password, you can reset it in the system
settings in NEO Manager (see page 168). If youre referring to the default file
password for AlphaWord Plus files, you can reset it in the AlphaWord Plus
settings in NEO Manager (see page 184 and page 185).
If you set a send list password and cant remember it, contact Technical
Support (see the contact information at the front of this manual).

I have a SmartApplet installed on my computer, but I cant install it on the NEOs.


In NEO Manager, all installed SmartApplets should appear in the list on the
SmartApplets tab. If one doesnt, try these steps:
1. Find the SmartApplet file on your computer and check the file extension.
SmartApplets that are compatible with NEO Manager have the extension
.OSK3App.
2. If the SmartApplet has the appropriate extension, add the SmartApplet by
following the steps on page 83.
If the SmartApplet doesnt have the appropriate extension, you wont be
able to use it with NEO Manager. Contact Technical Support for
assistance (see the contact information at the front of this manual).

Im managing a group of NEOs in a SmartOption Mobile Lab with an AlphaHub, and


I want to change a setting on one of the SmartApplets, but I dont see the
SmartApplet in the settings list in NEO Manager.
For a SmartApplet to appear in the Settings tab, it must either be listed in the
Install List on the SmartApplets tab, or it must be present on every connected
NEO. If the SmartApplet is present on some NEOs, but not all, then you need
to add it to the Install List on the SmartApplets tab in NEO Manager. Once
you do so, youll be able to change the setting for the SmartApplet on the
Settings tab.

When I try to drag and drop text from my Windows computer, NEO Manager
doesnt accept it.
Some Windows programs like Notepad dont support drag and drop, while
others like WordPad and Microsoft Word do. The program youre dragging
from has to support drag and drop in order for NEO Manager to receive it. If it
doesnt, you can always select and cut or copy the text from your program,
then paste it into NEO Manager.

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Reinstalling or Repairing Keys on the NEO Keyboard

Reinstalling or Repairing Keys on the NEO Keyboard


In the unlikely event that one of the NEO keys comes off the keyboard, you
can probably reinstall it yourself by following the instructions on the next few
pages. Read through all the instructions before reinstalling the keys.
If the spacebar has come off, see Reinstalling the Spacebar on page 218.
If only the cap has come off the key (not the white plastic scissors assembly),
follow the steps in Reinstalling the Key Cap Only below.
If the white plastic scissors assembly has come off in addition to the key cap,
follow the steps in Reinstalling the Scissors Assembly on page 217.

Reinstalli ng t he Key Cap Only


1. Start by looking at the underside of the key cap to make sure there are no
broken prongs, which are the protruding U-shaped clasps and hooked
pegs that help keep the key in place. Also, note the location of the plus
sign in the middle of the key caps underside.
The photos below show the two main styles of keys; though the shapes
are different, the keys have the same basic structure.

2. If you see at least one broken prong, stop here and contact Technical
Support for your location. (See the beginning of this manual for contact
information.)

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Reinstalling or Repairing Keys on the NEO Keyboard

If the prongs dont appear to be


damaged, and the keys underlying
scissors assembly is still in place on your
keyboard as shown to the right, gently lift
the bottom of the scissors assembly and
fit the bar or two tabs at the top of the
assembly into the top of the key cap as
shown. Gently flip the key down. Do not
press the key down yet.

3. Before you press the key down, please note that if you press too
hard, you may break the underlying scissors pieces, in which case
you will need to contact Technical Support and arrange for repair.
Now, press down gently until you hear the key click into place on the left
and right sides. If it clicks into place on one side, carefully push on the
opposite side until it clicks. If you dont have the key perfectly aligned,
wiggling the key slightly as you press down may help.

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Reinstalling or Repairing Keys on the NEO Keyboard

Reinstalli ng t he Scissors Assembly


1. If one or both of the white scissors assembly pieces are still attached to
the key cap, separate them from the key cap.
2. Now, place the two scissors pieces in front of you, so that the square
piece is on your left and the round piece is on your right as shown. (There
are two types of round assemblies, both of which are shown. You may
have either type.)
Make sure the pieces have the correct sides facing up; the square piece
should be tilted slightly towards the right, and the round piece should tilt
slightly towards the left.

3. Now, slide the round piece underneath the square piece, and bring it up
through the center of the square piece. Halfway up, maneuver the small
knobs on each side of the round piece into the holes on each side of the
square piece, one at a time, to create the scissoring action. When youve
finished, the assembly should look like the second picture below.

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Reinstalling or Repairing Keys on the NEO Keyboard

4. Take the two joined pieces and place


the assembly into the keypad.
Look at the space where the scissors
piece fits. For most keys, the left side
has two little slider bars. The right side
has a narrow vertical channel.
For arrow keys, the top side has the two
little slider bars, and the bottom has a
narrow vertical channel.
5. For all keys except the arrow keys,
put the square part of the scissors
piece to the far left of the keypad area where it is to sit; then, slide it
underneath the two slider pieces. Slide it all the way to the right.
For arrow keys, put the square part of the scissors at the top of the keypad
area where it is to sit; then, slide it underneath the two slider pieces. Slide
it all the way to the bottom of the area.
6. Now you should be able to click the
right side (or the bottom side of
arrow keys) into the narrow channel
just by pressing down on that side.
You should hear it click into place. It
should look like the image to the
right.
7. Now, go to page 215 and follow the
steps for reinstalling the key cap.

Reinstalli ng t he Spacebar
1. Fit the two wire ends into the tabs next to each scissors assembly as
shown.

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Reinstalling or Repairing Keys on the NEO Keyboard

2. Flip the solid end of the wire down as shown.

3. Gently fit the bar or two tabs at the top of each scissors assembly into the
top of the space bar key cap as shown.

4. Gently flip the key down.

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Reinstalling or Repairing Keys on the NEO Keyboard

5. Before you press down on the key to click it into place, please note that
if you press too hard, you may break the underlying scissors assemblies.
If this happens, you need to contact Technical Support for repair.
Now, press down gently on the key, one side at a time, until you hear it
click into place.

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A BOUT NEO B ATTERIES AND P OWER S OURCES


This chapter includes technical information about batteries for your NEO,
including the following:
Power sources for the NEO
When the NEO turns on automatically
Alkaline batteries
Rechargeable batteries
The low battery indicator
Tips on caring for batteries and storing your NEO

How Your NEO Receives Power


Your NEO receives power in one of two ways:
Through three AA batteries (alkaline provide the longest battery lifeup to
700 hours or more)
Through an optional internal rechargeable battery pack you have
purchased (see our website for details)
If you use AA batteries, all three must be the same type. When the battery
power is low, you can replace the batteries as described on the next page.
If you have a rechargeable battery pack, you recharge it with the AC adapter
that came with the battery pack. Refer to Using the Optional Rechargeable
Battery Pack on page 223 for additional information.
When your NEO is connected to your computer with a USB cable, it also
receives power from the computer. However, NEO functions are limited when
it is connected to a computer.

NEO Turns on Automatically When Connected


NEO turns on automatically when you use a USB cable to connect it to
A SmartOption Mobile Lab or an AlphaHub that is on (usually in a
classroom situation)
A running computer

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Replacing AA Batteries

NEO remains on until the cable is disconnected or the AlphaHub or computer


is turned off. When the cable is disconnected or power is removed from the
cable, NEO returns to the state it was in before connecting. For example, if it
was off before connecting, it will turn off again when disconnected.
When connected to a computer or AlphaHub, NEO uses the power available
from the computer even if no batteries are installed. Dont connect the AC
adapter when NEO is connected to a computer; its not necessary.

Replacing AA Batteries
When you replace NEOs AA batteries, you must change all three batteries. If
one discharged AA battery is used with two new batteries, the battery life is
significantly reduced, even though two out of the three are new.
Follow these steps to replace the batteries:
1. Use a Phillips screwdriver to remove the screw on the back of the NEO
A.
2. Put your thumbs in the circles on the battery compartment cover B and
slide the compartment cover toward the left to remove it from the NEO.

A
B

3. Remove the old AA batteries.

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Using the Optional Rechargeable Battery Pack

4. Insert three new AA batteries into the compartment. Make sure the + end
of each battery points toward the black and red cables.

5. Put the battery compartment cover back on and slide it back in place.
6. Insert the small Phillips screw in the hole in the cover and use a Phillips
screwdriver to tighten it to make sure the cover stays shut.

Using the Optional Rech argeable Battery Pack


If you purchased a rechargeable battery pack, your batteries are
automatically recharged whenever you connect the NEO to a computer or
AlphaHub using a USB cable. You can also recharge the batteries by
plugging the NEO in using the AC adapter. See page 3 to find out how to
charge or recharge the battery pack using the AC adapter.
Important: If youre going to store your NEO for a month or longer, charge it
before you store it, and then again after you take it out of storage to
compensate for the batteries self-discharge.

Specificati ons for t he AC Adapter


These are the specifications for the AC adapter that is included with the
rechargeable battery pack:
Class 2 transformer
Input: AC 120V 60Hz 9W (US) or 230V 50Hz 11.5W (UK and Europe)

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Using the Optional Rechargeable Battery Pack

Output: DC 7.5V 500 MA


(Negative)

+ (Positive)

You should always use the AC adapter supplied with the battery pack; dont
use other types.

About t he Opti onal Rechargeable Batteries


NEOs rechargeable battery packs use Nickel Metal Hydride (NiMH) cells.
NiMH cells can be charged about 500 times. Fully charged batteries can
power the NEO for 60150 hours (or even much longer), depending on use.
(Note, however, that fully charged batteries that are never used lose their
charge in about a month due to the self-discharge effect.)
New NiMH batteries need to be cycledalso known as conditioned
three to five times before they hold a full charge. This means that, during the
first three to five charge cycles, the batteries hold a successively better
charge each time until they reach full capacity.
To charge the batteries, plug the AC adapter into a working electrical outlet
and connect it to the power port on the left side of your NEO as described on
page 10.

Conditioning the Batteries


To condition the batteries, follow these steps:
1. Fully charge your NEO with the AC adapter.
2. Use your NEO without the AC adapter until the low battery message
appears. (This may take 60150 hours of use.)
3. Repeat steps 12 three to five times.
Youll get the longest life from your batteries if you wait for the low battery
warning to appear before recharging so the batteries arent needlessly
recharged. Charging with the AC adapter for about 816 hours fully charges
the batteries; if you use an AlphaHub or USB cable to recharge the batteries,
it may take as long as 24 hours. Dont charge the batteries for more than a
week; doing so may damage the batteries.

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NEOs indicator light A turns green when the device is fully charged.

Storing and Recharging NEOs


Rechargeable batteries that arent used over time lose their charge and need
to be fully charged again before being used.
If the batteries lose too much charge while in storage (which can happen if
you store your NEO for longer than you intended), the batteries themselves
may become damaged, which in turn can damage the NEO.
Important: If youre going to store your NEO for a month or longer, charge
the batteries before you store it, and then charge them again after you take
the NEO out of storage to compensate for the batteries self-discharge.

Lifetime of the Rechargeable Batteries


Well-maintained rechargeable batteries last about 500 charges, or about
three years. If your battery charge lasted forty hours in the past, but now it
lasts only one hour, you need a new battery pack, which you can purchase
from our website.
If your batteries have run down, and you dont have an AC adapter, you can
still connect your NEO to your computer and transfer the data in your files
while the computer provides power to your NEO. You can also temporarily
switch to AA alkaline batteries until you can obtain a new rechargeable
battery pack.

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Low Battery Message

Toxic Elements Statement


Each rechargeable battery cell is a sealed container enclosing a nickel
electrode and a potassium hydroxide electrolyte. The electrolyte is caustic.
Avoid contact with skin or eyes. If exposed accidentally, flush eyes with water
immediately.
Warning! Do not incinerate or mutilate the battery, as this may cause it to
burst or release toxic materials. Do not short circuit, as this may cause burns.
Please dispose of in accordance with local, state, and federal regulations.

Low Battery Message


When your AA batteries or rechargeable batteries are getting low, a warning
message appears on the NEO screen. The message appears about eight
hours before your AA batteries are dead and about twenty minutes before
your rechargeable batteries are dead. Be sure to replace your AA batteries or
recharge your optional battery pack before the batteries are completely
discharged.

Checking Battery Status (Charge)


To find out how much battery charge is remaining, follow these steps to check
the battery status on your NEO:
1. Press ctrl--B. The display shows a picture representing the amount of
battery power left and a message showing the percentage.
2. Press any key to return to your file.
You can also check battery status in the Control Panel by following these
steps:
1. Press applets.
2. Move the cursor down next to Control Panel and press enter.
3. Move the cursor down next to Display battery status and press enter.
The display shows a picture representing the amount of battery power left
and a message showing the percentage.
4. Press any key to leave this screen.

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Tips on Caring for Batteries


To avoid battery leakage in AA batteries, change the batteries as soon as
they become weak.
Do not drop, puncture, disassemble, mutilate, or incinerate the batteries.
Do not leave batteries in hot locations.

NEOs Backup Lithium Battery


NEO contains a secondary backup battery that isnt intended to be accessed
by users. The lithium battery provides power to the memory and helps
prevent data loss when the unit is turned off or when the batteries are dead or
removed. The lithium battery will last approximately five to seven years. If you
suspect a problem with the lithium battery, visit our website for more
information or contact Technical Support for assistance.
California USE Only:
This Perchlorate warning applies only to primary CR (Manganese Dioxide)
Lithium coin cells sold or distributed ONLY in California, USA:
Perchlorate Material-special handling may apply. See
www.dtsc.ca.gov/hazardouswaste/perchlorate.

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W ARRANTY AND M AINTENANCE


Warranty
Renaissance Learning, Inc., warrants the NEO keyboard and display to be
free from defects in materials and workmanship for a period of one year from
the date of original purchase.
For rechargeable devices, Renaissance Learning, Inc., warrants the
rechargeable battery to be free from defects for 90 days from the date of
original purchase.
During this period, if a defect occurs, Renaissance Learning, Inc., will, at its
option, repair or replace your NEO at no charge to you, provided that it is
returned during the warranty period to Renaissance Learning, Inc., or one of
its authorized resellers. This warranty does not apply if your NEO has been
damaged by accident or abuse, modified without the written permission of
Renaissance Learning, Inc., or if identifying marks (including serial numbers)
or seals have been removed or defaced.
There are no other warranties, expressed or implied. Renaissance Learning,
Inc., accepts no responsibility for consequential damages, including, but not
limited to, loss of profit or benefits.

Guarantee
Renaissance Learning, Inc., will refund your money in full (less original
shipping charges) if the items are returned in original condition within thirty
days of customer receipt of items.

Maintenance Tips
With proper care and maintenance, your NEO will last a long time. These
practices help keep your NEO in top condition:
Always turn off your NEO before changing the batteries.
Take care not to break the LCD screen. Dont drop NEO or subject it to
strong impact. Dont place an AC adapter or other heavy object over the
LCD screen.
Clean the screen only with a soft, dry cloth. Dont use solvents.

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Maintenance Tips

Keep your NEO away from extreme heat. Dont leave it on the dashboard of
a car, in the trunk of a car, or near a heater.
Dont leave your NEO in a place that is extremely dusty or damp.
Dont use frayed or damaged cables.
Never force a connector into a port if the connector and port do not join
easily.

St oring Your NEO


If you know youre not going to be using your NEO for a while, follow these
guidelines:
If you are storing a NEO that uses alkaline batteries, and youre going to be
storing it for longer than six months, or the battery capacity is less than
20%, remove the batteries from the NEO.
If youre storing a rechargeable NEO for between one and six months,
charge the NEO before you store it, and again after you take it out of
storage (to compensate for the battery packs self-discharge). If youre
storing a group of rechargeable NEOs, be sure to charge all of them
before and after storage.
Use care when storing or stacking a group of NEOs. You may inadvertently
cause a power drain from some units if they are stored incorrectly. If several
NEOs are stacked on top of each other and offset somewhat, be careful
that the rubber foot on the bottom of one NEO does not touch the on/off
key on the top of another NEO. If any NEO is accidentally turned on and
the on/off key remains pressed, this causes a small but constant battery
power drain even though nothing may appear on the screen. To avoid this
potential problem, stack your NEOs on edge or carefully make sure they
are stacked vertically with no offset.
You might want to enable the Two-Button On option so you cant turn the
NEO on by pressing just one key. On a single NEO, you can do this by
changing a setting in the Control Panel; see page 171. To change this for
several NEOs, use the system settings in the NEO Manager software; see
page 181.

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Return Procedures

Return Procedures
Important: If youre a customer outside the United States or United Kingdom,
and you purchased your NEO from a reseller, then you should contact that
reseller for assistance with your NEO. Do not return the device to
Renaissance Learning.
If you bought your NEO directly from Renaissance Learning outside the
United States or United Kingdom, contact the technical support resource
listed for your region in the front of this manual.
If you have a problem with your NEO, first read Troubleshooting on
page 208. If this section doesnt help you solve your problems, follow these
steps for help.
1. Contact Technical Support using the contact information for your country
listed at the front of this manual. Most problems can be solved by email or
over the phone.
2. If the device does need to be returned to the factory for repair, it must be
assigned an RMA (Return Material Authorization) number in order to track
the unit before it is returned. To receive an RMA number, contact
Technical Support using the contact information for your country listed at
the front of this manual. Youll need to provide the following information:

A detailed description of the problem

The serial number of the device

Your name and the address where the device should be returned

Note: Only Renaissance Learning can assign RMA numbers. If a NEO is


returned without an RMA number, it will delay the repair and increase the
chance that it could become lost.
3. Write the RMA number on the outside and inside of the box. Also on the
inside, tape a short, detailed note to the NEO explaining the problem
(include the RMA number).
4. Ship the damaged NEO to the address given when you receive your RMA
number. You will be sending your NEO to a repair center, not to the
Renaissance Learning office.
Important: Please ship NEO with a reliable shipper. Renaissance
Learning, Inc., will not be held responsible for devices that are lost in
shipment from a customer, or that are returned without an RMA number.
Your repaired NEO will be returned to you within two weeks of receipt. If
damages are due to accident or abuse, youll be charged a fee for the parts
replaced, as well as a repair handling fee.

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WARRANTY AND M AINTENANCE

FCC Statement
Note: This equipment has been tested and found to comply with the limits for
a Class B digital device, pursuant to part 15 of the FCC Rules. These limits
are designed to provide reasonable protection against harmful interference in
a residential installation. This equipment generates, uses and can radiate
radio frequency energy and, if not installed and used in accordance with the
instructions, may cause harmful interference to radio communications.
However, there is no guarantee that interference will not occur in a particular
installation. If this equipment does cause harmful interference to radio or
television reception, which can be determined by turning the equipment off
and on, the user is encouraged to try to correct the interference by one or
more of the following measures:
Reorient or relocate the receiving antenna.
Increase the separation between the equipment and receiver.
Connect the equipment into an outlet on a circuit different from that to
which the receiver is connected.
Consult the dealer or an experienced radio/TV technician for help.

FCC Cauti on
Any changes or modifications not expressly approved by Renaissance
Learning could void the users authority to operate the equipment. This device
complies with part 15 of the FCC Rules. Operation is subject to the following
two conditions: (1) This device may not cause harmful interference, and (2)
this device must accept any interference received, including interference that
may cause undesired operation.

More Product Safety Information


Detailed product safety information related to the Consumer Product Safety
Improvement Act can be found at www.renlearn.com/support or by contacting
Renaissance Learning at the address at the beginning of this manual.

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K EYBOARD C OMMANDS AND S PECIAL C HARACTERS


This appendix provides lists of keyboard commands and shows you how to
enter international and special characters using your NEO.

Ke yboa rd Com mands

232

Action

Keyboard Command

Move one character left or right

Move up or down one line

Move up one screen (scrolling)

Move down one screen (scrolling)

Move to beginning of line

Move to end of line

Move to beginning of file

home

Move to end of file

end

Move to previous word

option-

Move to next word

option-

Move to previous sentence

ctrl-

Move to next sentence

ctrl-

Move to previous paragraph

ctrl-

Move to next paragraph

ctrl-

Select/deselect one character to the left

shift-

Select/deselect one character to the right

shift-

Select/deselect one line up

shift-

Select/deselect one line down

shift-

Select from cursor to beginning of word

shift-option-

Select from cursor to end of word

shift-option-

Select from cursor to beginning of line

shift--

Select from cursor to end of line

shift--

Select all (select entire file)

ctrl-A or -A

Cut selected text to clipboard

ctrl-X or -X

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Action

Keyboard Command

Copy selected text to clipboard

ctrl-C or -C

Paste text from clipboard

ctrl-V or -V

Have the selected text read by an optional


NEO Text2Speech device

ctrl-M

Change settings for the NEO Text2Speech


device

ctrl-J

Delete a character or selection to the left of


the cursor

backspace

Delete a character or selection to the right


of the cursor

delete or
ctrl-backspace

Clear the entire contents of the file

clear file

Clear the contents from all eight workspace


files

shift-ctrl-option--clear file

Permanently delete an entire file

option--clear file

Permanently delete all files

ctrl-option--clear file

Recover 40 characters

ctrl-option--R

Recover file from last deletion

option--R

Recover entire file

ctrl-shift-option--R

Find text

find or -F

Find again

-G

Find and replace

ctrl-find

Check spelling

spell check

Spell check word containing cursor

-spell check

Spell check on/off

option--spell check

Spell check a selected section

ctrl-spell check

Ignore all occurrences in spell check

ctrl-I

Replace all in spell check

ctrl-enter

Open thesaurus

ctrl-T

File status (characters)

ctrl--I

File status (pages)

-I

File statistics (number of words, characters,


paragraphs, and spaces in a file)

ctrl-option--I

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KEYBOARD C OMMANDS AND S PECIAL C HARACTERS


Keyboard Commands

Action

Keyboard Command

Number of characters in all files

shift-ctrl--I

Number of pages in all files

shift--I

Word count (characters, words,


paragraphs, pages)

ctrl-W

System details

option--V

Clipboard contents

ctrl-option--C

Clipboard status (characters)

ctrl-shift-option--C

Clipboard status (pages)

option--C

Print files

print or -P

Typing Timer

-find

Create new file

ctrl-N

Open file

ctrl-O

Open or retrieve file from supported


programs

-O

Save and name a file

ctrl-S

Select file

ctrl-F

Delete file

ctrl-D

Send current AlphaWord Plus file to


another NEO with Beamer

ctrl-send

Send current AlphaWord Plus file to


supported programs like Google Docs

-send

Receive an AlphaWord Plus file from


another NEO with Beamer

ctrl-B

Go to SmartApplets menu

applets

Set a startup SmartApplet from the


SmartApplets menu

ctrl-applets

Disable a SmartApplet from the


SmartApplets menu

ctrl--L

Display information about selected


SmartApplet

option-applets

Select font size in AlphaWord Plus

ctrl-option--F

Copy linked file to clipboard

shift-ctrl--C

Copy current screen of a linked file

shift-ctrl-C

NEO 2
User Manual

Keyboard Commands

NEO 2
User Manual

.....

K EYBOARD C OMMANDS AND S PECIAL C HARACTERS

Action

Keyboard Command

Select section

-S

View linked file/main file

ctrl-L

Password enable/disable (master password


required)

ctrl-option--P

Change file password

option--P

Enable/disable Calculator (master


password required)

ctrl--C

Sticky Keys, Auto Repeat, Show Marks


status

option--K

Slow Keys status

ctrl-option--K

Change keyboard layout


(QWERTY, Dvorak, Right, Left)

option--L

Change send speed (cable)

option--S

Change send speed (IR)

ctrl-option--S

Switch to another file (when connected


by USB)

-File 1 (File 2, File 3, and so on)

Check battery status

ctrl--B

Set idle time

option--T

View help contents

ctrl-h or -H

Copy help contents

ctrl-C

View system hardware details

ctrl-shift-option--I

View system software details

ctrl-shift-option--B

235

.....

KEYBOARD C OMMANDS AND S PECIAL C HARACTERS


International and Special Characters

International and Special Characters


The following tables show the international and special characters that NEO
supports and the keys to press to generate each character.
Keyboard combinations separated by hyphens (ctrl-option-2, for example)
should be pressed in the order given and held down until the last key is
pressed.
Keyboard combinations separated by a comma (for example, option-E, A)
should be pressed sequentially; in this example, press and hold the option
key while pressing E, then release them both before pressing A. You will not
see a character displayed after pressing the E, but the character that appears
after pressing the A will be .

236

Character

Keystroke(s)

Notes

option-E, shift-A

acute accent

option-`, shift-A

grave accent

option-U, shift-A

umlaut accent

option-N, shift-A

tilde accent

option-shift-A

dot accent

option-E, A

acute accent

option-`, A

grave accent

option-I, A

circumflex accent

option-U, A

umlaut accent

option-N, A

tilde accent

option-A

dot accent

option-'

digraph (ligature)

option-shift-'

digraph (ligature)

option-C

cedilla accent

option-shift-C

cedilla accent

option-E, shift-E

acute accent

option-`, shift-E

grave accent

option-I, shift-E

circumflex accent

option-U, shift-E

umlaut accent

option-E, E

acute accent

NEO 2
User Manual

International and Special Characters

NEO 2
User Manual

Character

Keystroke(s)

Notes

option-`, E

grave accent

option-I, E

circumflex accent

option-U, E

umlaut accent

option-E, I

acute accent

option-`, i

grave accent

option-I, I

circumflex accent

option-U, I

umlaut accent

option-N, shift-N

tilde accent

option-N, N

tilde accent

option-E, shift-O

acute accent

option-`, shift-O

grave accent

option-I, shift-O

circumflex accent

option-U, shift-O

umlaut accent

option-N, shift-O

tilde accent

option-E, O

acute accent

option-`, O

grave accent

option-I, O

circumflex accent

option-U, O

umlaut accent

option-N, O

tilde accent

option-E, shift-U

acute accent

option-`, shift-U

grave accent

option-I, shift-U

circumflex accent

option-U, shift-U

umlaut accent

option-E, U

acute accent

option-`, U

grave accent

option-I, U

circumflex accent

option-U, U

umlaut accent

option-U, Y

umlaut accent

.....

K EYBOARD C OMMANDS AND S PECIAL C HARACTERS

237

.....

KEYBOARD C OMMANDS AND S PECIAL C HARACTERS


International and Special Characters

Character

Keystroke(s)

option-2

option-R

option-G

option-O

option-shift-O

option-shift-8

(infinity)

option-5

option-6

option-7

option-shift-/

option-1

option-shift-\

option-\

(acute accent)

option-E, space

` (grave accent)

option-`, space

^ (circumflex)

option-I, space

(umlaut)

option-U, space

~ (tilde)

option-N, space

option-H

(superscript dot)

ctrl-option-2
ctrl-option-3

238

ctrl-option-4

option-/

option-shift-=

option-F

shift-4

option-4

option-3

option-shift-5

option-Y

NEO 2
User Manual

International and Special Characters

Character

.....

K EYBOARD C OMMANDS AND S PECIAL C HARACTERS

Keystroke(s)

option-shift-2

(beta or German Sharp S)

option-S

(sigma)

option-W

(pi)

option-P

(mu)

option-M

(omega)

option-Z

Tr oubl eshooti ng Special Charact ers


International characters are supported by both Macintosh and Windows
computers. However, some Windows programs dont support the Microsoft
international character set, so they may have problems displaying
international characters correctly. If your characters havent transferred
correctly to a specific Windows program, follow these steps to try to transfer
international characters to any problematic Windows program:
1. On your computer, open the Notepad program.
2. On your NEO, send your text to Notepad.
3. In Notepad, select all the text, then press Ctrl-C to copy it to the Windows
clipboard.
4. Open a new file in the program that didnt accept the special characters
earlier.
5. Paste the text into a document in that program.
Copying and pasting through the clipboard usually solves the problem
because the clipboard interprets the characters correctly and transfers them
into the program.

NEO 2
User Manual

239

W RITE O N ! L ESSONS FOR NEO


You can also Write
On! lessons to NEO
2s using NEO Share.
For more information, see the
NEO Share User Manual.

Write On! for NEO provides hundreds of writing exercises, literacy skills
activities, and vocabulary strategies that teachers can use to help students
develop their writing skills. You can easily send these exercises to students
NEOs using NEO Manager (see page 68). Students work on the exercises on
their NEOs, typing their responses between angle bracket prompts < >. Once
the exercises are complete, you retrieve the exercises from the NEOs using
NEO Manager.
Using thoughtful themes and appealing content, Write On! for NEO exercises
promote writing and foster a love of language. Write On! exercises help you
avoid the blank screens that can be so intimidating to students at the
beginning of writing projects. Instead, the exercises provide screen after
screen of entertaining writing activities that engage students minds and
inspire creative responses.
Write On! files are organized by school level and type of activity. Writing
lessons are organized by process and theme. For a list of the school levels,
themes, and exercise files, see page 242. For an overview of the categories
and themes, see page 250.

Using Write On! Lessons with NEO 2s in NEO Share


You can also open Write On! lessons in NEO Share and make entire lessons
or parts of lessons available for NEO 2 users to pick up. This is an easy way
to use Write On! lessons with NEO 2s. For more information, click the Help
menu in NEO Share and choose Using Write On! Lessons.

How to Use Write On! Lessons in NEO Manager for All


NEOs
The steps below give you an overview of how to use Write On! exercises with
NEOs and NEO Manager.
1. Make sure you have installed NEO Manager on your computer (see
page 12).
2. Use the supplements summary (page 250) to find a theme that you want
your students to work with.
3. Read the individual file information in the PDF supplement and decide
which text file to work with.

240

NEO 2
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Retrieving Writing Exercises from NEOs

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W RITE O N! L ESSONS FOR N E O

4. Use NEO Manager to send the Write On! text file to file 1 on connected
NEOs (see page 68). (If any supporting files are mentioned in the
supplement, send the supporting file to file 2.) You can modify any of the
text exercises if youd like once you select them using NEO Manager.
5. Have students complete the work in the file. Students should type their
answers to questions within the angle brackets (< >).
6. To view student work, see the next section.

Retrieving Writing Exercises from NEOs


Remember that
students should
have entered their
responses between the
angle bracket prompts (<>).
To find student responses,
look for these prompts in the
files.

There are three ways to retrieve writing exercises once students complete
them: you can use NEO Manager, you can have students send their exercises
to your computer, or you can have students print directly from their NEOs.

Using NEO Manager to Retri eve Students Exerci ses


Use NEO Manager to retrieve exercises from either a single NEO or a group
of NEOs. This is the quickest method if you need to retrieve multiple files from
multiple NEOs. See page 51 to find out how to view, print, or save the student
files.

Sendi ng an Exerci se Directl y from NEO to Your Computer


By following these steps, students can send their exercises to your computer
one at a time. This method lets each student edit, reformat, save, or print his
or her exercise using your computer.
Note: If your students are using NEO 2s, they can also send their work to the
NEO Share software. For more information, see the NEO Share User
Manual.
1. Make sure NEO Manager isnt running on the computer.
2. On your computer, open the program and file where you want to send the
text.
3. Turn on NEO and make sure youre in the file that contains the exercise.
4. Connect NEO to your computer using a USB cable (see page 8).

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241

.....

W RITE O N! L ESSONS FOR N E O


Road Map of Write On! Lesson Files

5. On your computer, make sure the cursor is blinking in the file that you
want to send the exercise to. If not, click in the file to make it active; this
ensures the students exercise will be sent there.
6. On NEO, press send. The NEO displays a progress bar and a percentage
of how much text has been transferred.
7. When the transfer is complete, disconnect NEO and save the file on your
computer.

Pri nt ing Exercises Di rectl y from NEOs


If your classroom is set up for printing, follow these steps to have students
print directly from NEOs (using a USB cable, infrared printing, or wireless RF
printing for NEO 2 only). This method provides you or the student with a hard
copy of the exercise for editing or grading.
1. Do one of the following:

For USB printing, connect NEO to your printer with a USB cable (see
page 8).

For IR printing, make sure the printers IR transceiver is in range of


NEOs IR lens (within 57 inches).

For NEO 2 wireless RF printing, make sure your Renaissance


Receiver is connected to the computer and is on (see page 17).

2. Turn on the NEO and make sure youre in the file that contains the
exercise.
3. Press print on the NEO.

Road Map of Write On! Lesson Files


When you installed NEO Manager, the Write On! exercise files were copied to
your computer. The exercises are grouped by school level: elementary
school, middle school, and high school. Within these groups, files are further
broken down by types of activity, and writing lessons are also broken down by
types of writing, writing process, writing skills, and more.
You can also view
lessons in NEO
Manager as you
select a Write On! lesson. See
page 68.

242

Here is where you can find the files on your computer:


Windows computers: Program Files\Renaissance Learning\Write On Text
Files\
Macintosh computers: Applications : AlphaSmart : AlphaSmart Manager
2 : Write On Text Files

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Road Map of Write On! Lesson Files

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W RITE O N! L ESSONS FOR N E O

The following tables show how the files are organized on your computer and
how you will find them organized when you select them in NEO Manager.

Elementary School Files


\1_Elementary
School

\Literacy Skills
Activities

\Class Clown

Character Class Clown.txt


Compare Class Clown.txt
Vocabulary Class Clown.txt

\Fudge-a-Mania

Plot Fudge a Mania.txt


Setting Fudge a Mania.txt
Vocabulary Fudge a Mania.txt

\Marvin
Redpost

Character Marvin Redpost.txt


Tone Marvin Redpost.txt
Vocabulary Marvin Redpost.txt

\The Boxcar
Children

Character The Boxcar Children.txt


Response The Boxcar Children.txt
Vocabulary The Boxcar Children.txt

\Vocabulary
Strategies
\Writing
Lessons

ABC Graffiti.txt
Possible Sentences.txt
Synonym Cluster.txt

\Seasons

\Fall
B_BRTHDY.txt
C_CELEB.txt
D_COLUMB.txt
E_ANIMAL.txt
F_AUTH1.txt
G_AUTH2.txt
H_CHANT.txt

I_FEEL.txt
J_FIELD.txt
K_MYTH.txt
L_SET.txt
M_ACROSS.txt
N_SING.txt

\Spring
B_BRTHDY.txt
C_CELEBR.txt
D_EASTER.txt
E_PET.txt
F_PLACE.txt

G_CREAT.txt
H_FLING.txt
I_STORY.txt
J_PAT.txt

\Winter
B_BRTHDY.txt
C_CELEBR.txt
D_HOLIDY.txt
E_MISTLE.txt
F_RECIPE.txt

NEO 2
User Manual

G_CHANT.txt
H_FLOWER.txt
I_MOUSE.txt
J_PICT.txt

243

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Road Map of Write On! Lesson Files

Elementary School Files (Continued)


\1_Elementary
School
(Continued)

\Writing
Lessons
(Continued)

\The Process of
Writing

\Character Building
B_TEASE1.txt
B_TEASE2.txt
C_ACTION.txt
C_FEEL.txt
D_SINC1.txt
D_SINC2.txt
E_TRUST1.txt
E_TRUST2.txt

F_ATTIT1.txt
F_ATTIT2.txt
G_HONST1.txt
G_HONST2.txt
G_HONST3.txt
H_CHANG1.txt
H_CHANG2.txt

\Poetry for Young Poets


B_SNDCHT.txt
C_EATCHT.txt
D_ACTCHT.txt
E_NAME.txt
F_PATRN1.txt
G_PATRN2.txt
H_MEPOEM.txt
I_ALTRTN.txt

J_LMRKS.txt
K_SIMIL1.txt
L_SIMIL2.txt
M_SIMMET.txt
N_RECIPE.txt
O_TRANS1.txt
P_TRANS2.txt

\Tall Tales
B_KNOW.txt
C_TALES.txt
D_EXAG.txt
E_WALK.txt
F_RAIN.txt
G_APPLE1.txt
G_APPLE2.txt
H_HENRY1.txt

H_HENRY2.txt
I_BNYAN1.txt
I_BNYAN2.txt
J_PECOS1.txt
J_PECOS2.txt
K_PIPPI.txt
L_ME.txt
M_ACROST.txt

\The Me Activities I
B_ENDING.txt
C_PATTRN.txt
D_FAMILY.txt
E_IUSED.txt
F_CHANGE.txt
G_FAVORT.txt

\Writing Skills

\Paragraphs to Essays Level 1


B_TOPIC.txt
C_SUMMRY.txt
D_SENSE.txt
E_SUBJCT.txt
F_EXAMPL.txt

244

H_LETTER.txt
I_POEM.txt
J_DREAMS.txt
K_FEELNG.txt
L_THREE.txt

G_MIX.txt
H_ORDER.txt
I_SPICY.txt
J_TIRED.txt
K_MAKE.txt

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Road Map of Write On! Lesson Files

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W RITE O N! L ESSONS FOR N E O

Elementary School Files (Continued)


\1_Elementary
School
(Continued)

\Writing
Lessons
(Continued)

\Writing Skills
(Continued)

\Sentence Writing Level 1


B_FAVOR.txt
C_ADJECT.txt
D_ADVERB.txt
E_FRAG.txt
F_NEWS.txt

G_MORE.txt
H_COLOR.txt
I_NAME.txt
J_PARAGR.txt

\Sentences to Paragraphs Level 1


B_SIMPLE.txt
C_ALPHA.txt
D_SENSE.txt
E_LOVE.txt
F_SUBJ.txt
G_SUMM.txt

H_MIX.txt
I_DETAIL.txt
J_TIME.txt
K_TOWN.txt
L_FIND.txt
M_TITLE.txt

Middle School Files


\2_Middle School

\Literacy Skills
Activities

\Hatchet

Believability Hatchet.txt
Setting Hatchet.txt
Vocabulary Hatchet.txt

\Number the
Stars

Character Number the Stars.txt


Setting Number the Stars.txt
Vocabulary Number the Stars.txt

\The Giver

Setting The Giver.txt


Theme The Giver.txt
Vocabulary The Giver.txt

\The Lion, the


Witch, and the
Wardrobe
(Unabridged)

Character The Lion the Witch.txt


Dialogue The Lion the Witch.txt
Vocabulary The Lion the Witch.txt

\Vocabulary
Strategies
\Writing
Lessons

NEO 2
User Manual

Closed Word Sort.txt


Concept Circles.txt
Sentence Chains.txt

\Poetry and
Building Word
Power

\Chants to Limericks
B_CHANTS.txt
C_ACROST.txt
D_LIMRCK.txt
E_DAILY.txt

F_TRANS.txt
G_IMAGIN.txt
H_SIM1.txt
I_SIM2.txt

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Road Map of Write On! Lesson Files

Middle School Files (Continued)


\2_Middle School
(Continued)

\Writing
Lessons
(Continued)

\Poetry and
Building Word
Power
(Continued)

\Haiku to Free Verse


B_METAPH.txt
C_HAIKU.txt
D_RECIPE.txt
E_VERSE1.txt

F_VERSE2.txt
G_VERSE3.txt
H_THEME.txt

\Someone Won
B_EIGHT.txt
C_ONE.txt

D_BASES.txt
E_INN.txt

\The Me Activities II
B_NAME.txt
C_MEET.txt
D_FAMILY.txt
E_CHANGE.txt
F_ENDING.txt
G_FEEL1.txt

H_FEEL2.txt
I_MEMORY.txt
J_KEY.txt
K_JOURNL.txt
L_TIME.txt

\The Power of Words


B_BELIEV.txt
C_WAYS.txt
D_REPLAC.txt
E_SEXIST.txt

F_SLANT.txt
G_RIGHT.txt
H_EUPHEM.txt
I_WHAT.txt

\Where the Sidewalk Bends


B_MICE.txt
C_DOOR.txt
D_TRAPEZ.txt
E_HKCROK.txt
F_OURBND.txt

\The Process of
Writing

G_HALWEN.txt
H_PEOPLE.txt
I_MAGIC.txt
J_BITS.txt
K_TUGWAR.txt

\Character Sketch I
B_DES1.txt
C_DES2.txt
D_SET1.txt
E_SET2.txt
F_SETDES.txt
G_DIA.txt

H_DIADES.txt
I_SETDIA.txt
J_INTERC.txt
K_ACTION.txt
L_NARRAT.txt

\Finding a Writing Style I


B_VIEW1.txt
C_VIEW2.txt
D_DESC.txt
E_SPICE.txt
F_TRIM1.txt
G_TRIM2.txt

246

H_LIT1.txt
I_LIT2.txt
J_AUDENC.txt
K_RIGHT.txt
L_TIGHT.txt

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Road Map of Write On! Lesson Files

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W RITE O N! L ESSONS FOR N E O

Middle School Files (Continued)


\2_Middle School
(Continued)

\Writing
Lessons
(Continued)

\The Process of
Writing
(Continued)

\Letters, Forms, Applications


B_FRND1.txt
C_FRND2.txt
D_BSNS1.txt
E_BSNS2.txt
F_NOTES.txt

G_PERMIT.txt
H_LIBRAR.txt
I_THEFT.txt
J_SOCSEC.txt
K_ORDER.txt

\Moral Dilemmas I
B_ACNE1.txt
C_ACNE2.txt
D_CHAR1.txt
E_CHAR2.txt
F_DOG1.txt
G_DOG2.txt
H_DRUG1.txt
I_DRUG2.txt
J_JEAL1.txt

K_JEAL2.txt
L_NERD1.txt
M_NERD2.txt
N_PARTY1.txt
O_PARTY2.txt
P_PROF1.txt
Q_PROF2.txt
R_STER1.txt
S_STER2.txt

\Observe and Describe


B_COLOR.txt
C_SENSE1.txt
D_SENSE2.txt
E_CLUSTR.txt

\Writing Skills

F_EXAMP.txt
G_THEIT.txt
H_PORTRT.txt
I_TRIM.txt

\Paragraphs to Essays Level I


B_START.txt
C_CLUSTR.txt
D_TOPIC.txt
E_BROAD.txt
F_SENSE.txt
G_TIME.txt

H_LINKRS.txt
I_DESC.txt
J_EXPOS.txt
K_NARRAT.txt
L_PERS.txt

\Sentence Combining with a Moral


B_WARMUP.txt
C_FOX.txt
D_SLEEK.txt
E_SWALLO.txt
F_PLEASE.txt
G_BRAIN.txt

H_BEE.txt
I_MEDICN.txt
J_HAIR.txt
K_FLATTR.txt
L_EXPAND.txt
M_REFER.txt

\Sentence Writing Level II


B_NEWS.txt
C_FRAG.txt
D_SEPAR.txt
E_COMBIN.txt

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F_ADJECT.txt
G_COLOR.txt
H_MORE.txt
I_OVER.txt

247

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Road Map of Write On! Lesson Files

Middle School Files (Continued)


\2_Middle School
(Continued)

\Writing
Lessons
(Continued)

\Writing Skills
(Continued)

\Sentences to Paragraphs Level II


B_START.txt
C_MIX.txt
D_CLUSTR.txt
E_DETAIL.txt
F_BROAD.txt

G_LIVELY.txt
H_SENSE.txt
I_TRANS1.txt
J_TRANS2.txt
K_PROVRB.txt

\You Are the Editor I


B_WARMUP.txt
C_CLENUP.txt
D_SPACES.txt
E_RETRN1.txt
F_UNITY.txt
G_MIXED.txt

H_FIXUP.txt
I_LETTER.txt
J_RETRN2.txt
K_RECIPE.txt
L_COMBIN.txt

\You Are the Editor II


B_WARMUP.txt
C_RUNON.txt
D_REPLCE.txt
E_DEADWD.txt
F_PARGRP.txt
G_MISSNG.txt
H_MISPLC.txt

I_TIRED.txt
J_TRICKY.txt
K_FIND.txt
L_AUDNC1.txt
M_DESCRB.txt
N_AUDNC2.txt
O_COMBIN.txt

High School Files


\3_High School

\Literacy Skills
Activities

\Vocabulary
Strategies

248

\Animal Farm

Character Animal Farm.txt


Inference Animal Farm.txt
Vocabulary Animal Farm.txt

\Flowers for
Algernon

Character Flowers for Algernon.txt


Compare Flowers for Algernon.txt
Vocabulary Flowers for Algernon.txt

\Lord of the
Flies

Character Lord of the Flies.txt


Setting Lord of the Flies.txt
Vocabulary Lord of the Flies.txt

\The Hobbit

Character The Hobbit.txt


Setting The Hobbit.txt
Vocabulary The Hobbit.txt
Concept of Definition.txt
Four-Part Definition.txt
Vocabulary Self Selection.txt

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Road Map of Write On! Lesson Files

.....

W RITE O N! L ESSONS FOR N E O

High School Files (Continued)


\3_High School
(Continued)

\Writing
Lessons

\1 Writing Skills

\Persuasive Essay
B_PERSD.txt
C_AUD.txt
D_REV1.txt
E_UNITY.txt
F_REV2.txt
G_5PARA.txt

H_REV3.txt
I_TRANS.txt
J_LEAD.txt
K_PROOF.txt
L_ESSAY.txt

\Polishing Prose
B_CAPS.txt
C_HOMOPH.txt
D_DANGLE.txt
E_FRAG.txt
F_COMMA.txt

G_ACTIVE.txt
H_SENT.txt
I_SHOW.txt
J_COMBIN.txt
K_SPECIF.txt

\Sentence Combine with American


Classics
B_WARMUP.txt
C_HAWTH.txt
D_FLOWER.txt
E_POE.txt
F_MELVIL.txt
G_THREAU.txt

\2 The Process
of Writing

H_SIMPLE.txt
I_LADIES.txt
J_WEBSTR.txt
K_TWAIN.txt
L_REFER.txt

\Character Sketch II
B_DESC1.txt
C_DESC2.txt
D_SET.txt
E_SETDES.txt
F_DIA.txt

G_DIADES.txt
H_INTERA.txt
I_ACTION.txt
J_NARRAT.txt

\Character Sketch III


B_STRNGE.txt
C_WALLET.txt
D_FIGUR.txt
E_PUNCHY.txt

F_TIME.txt
G_SPEECH.txt
H_REACT.txt

\Finding a Writing Style


B_VIEW1.txt
C_VIEW2.txt
D_VIEW3.txt
E_DESC.txt
F_HIDDEN.txt
G_DTAIL1.txt

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H_DTAIL2.txt
I_FIG1.txt
J_FIG2.txt
K_AUD1.txt
L_AUD2.txt

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Write On! Lesson Categories and Teaching Supplements

High School Files (Continued)


\3_High School
(Continued)

\Writing
Lessons
(Continued)

\3 Lifelong Skills

\Answering Essay Questions


B_SIMPL1.txt
C_SIMPL2.txt
D_CMPLX1.txt
E_CMPLX2.txt
F_KEY.txt
G_COMPAR.txt

H_CNTRST.txt
I_DESCRB.txt
J_EXPLN.txt
K_SUMMAR.txt
L_ARGUE.txt

\Job Storming
B_PREPAR.txt
C_STUDY1.txt
D_HIRE.txt
E_GIRLS.txt
F_BOYS.txt

G_FORM.txt
H_INTERV.txt
I_APPLIC.txt
J_YOURS.txt
K_SMARTS.txt

\Moral Dilemmas II
B_OPIN1.txt
C_OPIN2.txt
D_PRES1.txt
E_PRES2.txt
F_REV1.txt
G_REV2.txt
H_ROLLS1.txt
I_ROLLS2.txt

J_STDNT1.txt
K_STDNT2.txt
L_TEST1.txt
M_TEST2.txt
N_TWIN1.txt
O_TWIN2.txt
P_WALL1.txt
Q_WALL2.txt

Write On! Lesson Categories and Teaching Supplements


The tables on the next few pages provide an overview of the categories and
themes available for Write On! writing lessons at each school level. This can
help you decide which sets of exercises you want your students to work on.
For more detailed information about each writing exercise, refer to the
Teachers Supplement PDF files in one of these locations:
On the NEO Manager CD in the Write On Text Files folder.
A separate
supplement is in the
folder for each
school level (elementary,
middle school, and high
school).

On your computer (once youve installed NEO Manager. Check the location
for your type of computer:
Window Computers: Program Files\Renaissance Learning\Write On Text
Files\. Look in the Writing Lessons folder under each school level to find the
teaching supplement for that level.
Macintosh Computers: Applications : AlphaSmart : AlphaSmart Manager
2 : Write On Text Files. Look in the Writing Lessons folder under each
school level to find the teaching supplement for that level.

250

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Write On! Lesson Categories and Teaching Supplements

El ementary School Exerci ses


This table gives you an overview of the categories and themes available at
the elementary school level. For detailed information about each writing
exercise, consult the ElementarySchoolSupplement.pdf teaching supplement
file.

1_Elementary School
Seasons

The
Process of
Writing

NEO 2
User Manual

Fall

The Fall folder contains calendar-related activities


with a fall theme. It focuses students observation
on how autumn changes affect animal and human
behavior. The activities contain inquiries into how
the season looks and feels, and how it affects us.
Files of important peoples birthdays and
interesting holidays are used to motivate writing.
Fall includes lots of writing for the seasonallyinspired poet, letter writer, or storyteller.

Spring

The Spring folder uses springtime as a theme to


spark writing activities. Each activity has a specific
focus on a topic and a skill. Two exercises provide
short descriptions of people and/or events as
models for high-interest paragraph writing. Other
activity files in Spring focus on an animal or plant,
custom, legend, or lyric as a takeoff for writing a
paragraph, a character sketch, a poem, a story, or
a news report.

Winter

Wintertime is the theme for this folders writing


activities. While the broad theme is Winter, each
activity has a specific focus on a topic and a skill.
Two exercises provide short descriptions of people
and/or events as models for high-interest
paragraph writing. Other activity files for Winter
focus on an animal, plant, custom, or legend as a
takeoff for writing a character sketch, a poem, a
story, or a news report.

Character
Building

The primary method of inquiry used in Character


Building exercises is critical thinking, expressed
through class or small-group discussion and/or
individual writing. While activities include the
writing of anecdote, personal experience, letter,
and verse, the emphasis is always on ideas, not
form.

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Write On! Lesson Categories and Teaching Supplements

1_Elementary School (Continued)


The
Process of
Writing
(Continued)

Writing
Skills

252

Poetry for
Young Poets

Through a step-by-step scope and sequence for


developing poetry writing skills, students learn and
practice basic poetry forms, including the chant,
transformation, recipe, simile, and metaphor. Ideal
for individual and cooperative writing activities.

Tall Tales

Writing patterns and story and poetry writing


activities guide you and your students through a
wealth of reading, sharing, and writing activities in
the Tall Tales folder. Exaggeration and exploration
are encouraged when writing about Johnny
Appleseed, John Henry, Pippi Longstocking, Paul
Bunyan, and many more.

The Me
Activities I

Writing activities focus on a childs own feelings,


experiences, memories, and values using journal
writing, letters, biography, and poetry. Many
prewriting strategies help students find, sort, and
select writing topics. The activities are for children
to work on independently or in small groups.
Writing is more individual and child-specific than is
generally required in other Write On! exercises.

Paragraphs to
Essays Level
1

Files in this folder give practice in writing


paragraphs, beginning with the topic sentence and
progressing through techniques and strategies
such as summarizing, ordering, specifying, and
describing. Files are arranged so that students
begin working with main ideas. However, files may
be used in any order for reinforcement of skills
already taught.

Sentence
Writing
Level 1

Through onscreen activities and modeling,


students practice creating sentences. These
activities provide practice with sentence
fragments, compound sentences, adjectives,
adverbs, and simple paragraphs.

Sentences to
Paragraphs
Level 1

Files in this folder give practice in writing


paragraphs that include the use of our senses,
things we hate/love, sticking to the topic, and
many more themes. Modeling and paragraph
starters are used to help students. Files are
arranged so students begin working with main
ideas; however, files may be used in any order for
reinforcement of skills already taught.

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Write On! Lesson Categories and Teaching Supplements

Middl e School Exercises


This table gives you an overview of the categories and themes available at
the middle school level. For detailed information about each writing exercise,
consult the MiddleSchoolSupplements.pdf teaching supplement file.

2_Middle School
Poetry and
Building
Word Power

NEO 2
User Manual

Chants to
Limericks

Files for Chants to Limericks present classical and innovative


poetry patterns, puzzles, and forms to introduce common
elements found in poetry. Some of these are chant,
repetition, rhyme, rhythm, figurative language, theme, and
meaning. Although files can be used in any order, there is a
logical progression from the basic, instinctive chant form of
the first lesson to the more highly intuitive form of the final
lesson. Students may work alone on all activities, but sharing
with writing groups and class publishing is encouraged.

Haiku to Free
Verse

Activities in Haiku to Free Verse have students experiment


with poetic devices such as simile and metaphor and the
poetic forms of haiku and free verse. Content ranges from
themes about the everyday world to being playful and also to
the serious and personal. Although files can be used in any
order, there is a logical progression from poetic devices used
in the first lesson to the free verse form of the final lessons.
Students may work alone on all activities, but sharing with
writing groups and class publishing is encouraged.

Someone
Won

Using sample poems and homophone lists, students create


their own homophone poems through individual and
collaborative writing.

The Me
Activities II

Students explore the various elements encompassing


autobiographical sketches and also work through some value
clarification exercises. These activities can help students
explore their personalities and can help foster positive selfesteem.

The Power of
Words

In our busy classrooms, students are often occupied with


learning the literal definitions and meanings of words needed
to understand subject area material. There may be too little
classroom time left to ponder the power of words. These files
pull up the shade, so to speak, showing the range of
meanings that lie just beyond the literal or utilitarian as
students explore connotation. They can reach for the
richness of precise words to take the place of a
generalization or clich, to define the exact feeling of a thing
to be described, or to replace a stereotypical or sexist
reference.

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Write On! Lesson Categories and Teaching Supplements

2_Middle School (Continued)

254

Poetry and
Word
Building
(Continued)

Where the
Sidewalk
Bends

By reading and writing poems on themes that have been


developed by some of their favorite poets, students gain
greater control over poetic language, rhythm and imagery.

The Process
of Writing

Character
Sketch I

Activities on Character Sketch I have students practice six


strategies for developing a character: description, setting,
dialogue, interaction, action, and narrative. Files are arranged
to give students practice in recognizing and imitating
techniques in the order shown above. One or more
techniques for study and imitation can appear in any one
lesson. Students are encouraged to use a variety of
techniques in their own writing. All files can be used by
students working individually, in pairs, or in cooperative
groups.

Finding a
Writing
Style I

Sentence structure, use of vivid and appropriate language,


maintaining and varying tone, using metaphor, and the effect
of point of view are topics addressed. Passages from the
following novels are used and become models of writing
styles: Island of the Blue Dolphins, Where the Red Fern
Grows, A Wrinkle in Time, The Red Badge of Courage, The
Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, The Adventures of Tom
Sawyer, The Wind in the Willows, The Lion, the Witch and the
Wardrobe, and My Side of the Mountain.

Letters,
Forms,
Applications

Writing a good letter, whether for friendship or business, is a


skill to be encouraged. Forms for writing letters are modeled
to give practice in writing both formal and informal letters.
Then, too, students in intermediate grades are on the verge
of the form-filled world that many adults dislike but take for
granted. Filling out a form can be intimidating! To ease
anxiety, a variety of forms are described and students are
given practice in filling out a form for a present or future need.
Forms described range from a form used to obtain a library
card to a form used for reporting a theft.

Moral
Dilemmas I

Students are provided with several moral dilemmas. Prewrite


activities lead student writing groups through a brainstorm of
ideas and thoughts about each dilemma, further analysis and
refinement, and the writing of a position statement or
statements. Then each student writes an essay supporting
his or her chosen position and stating their personal feelings
on the issue. Students carry their essays through first draft,
peer review, and final proofreading. Through healthy
discussion and debate on these issues, students can learn a
lot about themselves and their values as well as gain practice
in group discussion and decision-making and in writing
expository essays on relevant issues.

NEO 2
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Write On! Lesson Categories and Teaching Supplements

2_Middle School (Continued)

NEO 2
User Manual

The Process
of Writing
(Continued)

Observe and
Describe

Students develop descriptive skills through observing and


describing, drawing on experience, noticing details, selecting
details, using the five senses, and describing objects and
events. The process of description is one of the most
effective ways for students to learn observation, style, and
tone. Writing descriptions may be the first stage in
overcoming reluctance to write.

Writing Skills

Paragraphs to
Essays Level
II

Files in Paragraphs to Essays Level II give practice in writing


paragraphs that exhibit a strong topic sentence, supporting
details, and a summary sentence. Specific strategies include
idea generating by clustering, narrowing a topic thats too
broad, ordering, adding supporting details, and linking
sentences. In addition, students review different types of
writing: descriptive, expository, narrative, and persuasive.
Files are arranged so that students begin working with topic
sentences. However, files may be used in any order for
reinforcement of skills already taught.

Sentence
Combining
with a Moral

Students read fables by Aesop, decide what the morals are,


and try their own hand at reconstructing sentences from the
fables. They learn to recognize overstuffed and skinny
sentences and revise them for sleekness by applying the
principles of sentence combining. Learning to write better
sentences is what sentence combining is all about. Writing
with a word processor (such as a NEO) is a natural fit with
this editing approach to learning; word processing features
allow students to manipulate sentences freely, making any
changes they want to easily.

Sentence
Writing Level
II

Writing effective sentences through the use of correct


structure and expressive language is reinforced through
activities in the sentence series. Students experiment with
the use of nouns, verbs, adverbs, pronouns, and adjectives;
combine sentences; and vary sentence type, length, and
style.

Sentences to
Paragraphs
Level II

Files in Sentences to Paragraphs Level II give practice in


writing paragraphs that exhibit a strong topic sentence,
supporting details, and a summary sentence. Specific
strategies are reviewed: narrowing a topic thats too broad,
ordering, adding supporting details, and linking sentences by
example, by cause and effect, by comparison, and by
contrast. Files are arranged so that students begin working
with topic sentences. However, files may be used in any order
for reinforcement of skills already taught.

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Write On! Lesson Categories and Teaching Supplements

2_Middle School (Continued)


Writing Skills
(Continued)

You Are the


Editor I

Using text that is sometimes informative and sometimes


whimsical, students practice some important keyboard and
command functions of word processing software. In the
process, they are also called upon to apply and practice skills
inherent in good editing and proofreading: critical thinking,
organizational concepts, spelling and usage, sentence
combining, sentence sense, and clarity of meaning. Word
processing and editing are natural skills to practice
simultaneously.

You Are the


Editor II

Students practice some important keyboard and command


functions for word processing: space, return, delete, cursor
movement, move text, search and replace. In the process,
they apply and practice the skills inherent in good
editing/proofreading: critical thinking, organizational
concepts, spelling and usage, sentence sense, and clarity of
meaning. Some of the passages that make up the activities
are informative, others are whimsical.

Hi gh School Exercises
This table gives you an overview of the categories and themes available at
the high school level. For detailed information about each writing exercise,
consult the HighSchoolSupplements.pdf teaching supplement file.

3_High School
1 Writing
Skills

256

Persuasive
Essay

Students are taken through the steps needed to write a


persuasive essay. They receive guidance at each
stagefrom selecting a topic through polishing and
proofreading.

Polishing
Prose

These files address basic mechanics, grammar, usage,


and stylistic issues that will guide students as they polish
their prose. Jack Londons story To Build a Fire
provides models and examples.

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Write On! Lesson Categories and Teaching Supplements

3_High School (Continued)


1 Writing
Skills
(Continued)

Sentence
Combining
with American
Classics

Students read passages from several American writers


of the mid-nineteenth century to focus on the passages
sentence styles. Students try their hand at a number of
different interactions with the textfrom rewriting and
combining underlying skinny sentences to imitating the
authors styleall the while practicing the art of
sentence construction. Learning to write a variety of
sentence types is what sentence combining is all about,
and writing with a word processor (such as a NEO) is a
natural fit with this editing approach to learning. Word
processing features allow students to manipulate
sentences freely and to see all the changes they make
as they make them.

2 The
Process of
Writing

Character
Sketch II

Activities in Character Sketch II give students practice in


six strategies used in writing to develop a character:
description, setting, dialogue, interaction, action, and
narrative. Files are arranged to give students practice in
recognizing and imitating techniques in the order shown
above. One or more techniques for study and imitation
can appear in any one lesson. Students are encouraged
to use a variety of techniques in their own writing. All
files can be used by students working individually, in
pairs, or in cooperative groups.

Character
Sketch III

What is basic to writing a character sketch? Students


are shown through modeling what these basic elements
are, and how to bring them together to reveal a
character of their own making, using appropriate
evidence and specific language.

Finding a
Writing Style

Varying sentence structure, use of vivid and appropriate


language, maintaining and varying tone, using
metaphor, the effect of point of view, and intended
audience are topics addressed. Passages from many
classics are used and become models of writing styles:
The Pit and the Pendulum, The Metamorphosis, The
Devil and Daniel Webster, Crime and Punishment, The
Red Badge of Courage, The Adventures of Tom Sawyer,
The Wind in the Willows, Once There Was a War, and
The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn.

Answering
Essay
Questions

Directive words used in essay questions (such as


explain, compare, discuss, justify, contrast, and
evaluate) are defined. Answers are modeled and, using
cooperative learning strategies, responses are
evaluated by the students. These activities are good
preparation for the type of writing required for college
entrance exams.

3 Lifelong
Skills

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Write On! Lesson Categories and Teaching Supplements

3_High School (Continued)


3 Lifelong
Skills
(Continued)

258

Job Storming

Job Storming gives teenagers, particularly those about


to seek that scary but exciting first job, a chance to
anticipate problems and opportunities before
approaching the work place. Discussions in the files are
presented in the expectation that Cervantes wise
admonition forewarned is forearmed will better prepare
teenagers to think ahead and speak up for themselves,
whether seeking a job out of need or for pocket money.
Learning the ways of the world the hard wayby
experiencemay be softened somewhat by mild
exposure to these exercises.

Moral
Dilemmas II

Students are provided with a moral dilemma. Prewrite


activities lead student writing groups through a
brainstorm of ideas and thoughts about the dilemma,
further analysis and refinement, and the writing of a
position statement or statements. Then each individual
student writes an essay that supports the students
chosen position and states the students personal
feelings on this issue. Through healthy discussion and
debate on these issues, students can learn a lot about
themselves and their values as well as gain practice in
group discussion and decision-making and in writing
expository essays on relevant issues. Editing Guideline
sheets are provided so students can carry their essays
through first draft, peer review, and final proofreading.
Publishing a booklet of moral dilemma essays makes a
good conclusion to this activity.

NEO 2
User Manual

I NDEX
Numerics
2Know! Toolbar and NEO 2, 91
8.3 naming convention, requiring in NEO Manager,
196

A
AA batteries, 221
replacing, 222
About NEO 2 setting, 178
AC adapter specifications, 223
Accelerated Math RP and NEO 2, 88
Accelerated Reader SmartApplet, 93
checking settings before quizzing, 94
preferences to set in Accelerated Reader RP, 94
preparing to use, 93
quiz number, 94
quizzing restrictions, 97
setting the Renaissance Place address, 20
setup, 93
student user names and passwords, 94, 101
taking a quiz, 94
what students need in order to take quizzes, 94
AccelTest software
student-paced session, 85
teacher-paced session, 87
using with NEO 2, 84
Accuracy activities in KeyWords, 125
Accuracy and speed builders in KeyWords, 124, 125
Accuracy and speed test in KeyWords, 124, 127
Accuracy goals in KeyWords, 138, 139
Adding KeyWords students in NEO Manager, 116,
119
Adding KeyWords students on NEOs that are in NEO
Manager, 120
Adding SmartApplets to NEO Manager software, 83
Adding students manually in KeyWords, 121

NEO 2
User Manual

Adding words to the user dictionary for spell checks,


34, 172, 186
Administrator PIN for the Renaissance Wireless
Server Utility, 19
Alkaline batteries, 221
Allowing beaming from NEOs, 201
AlphaHub information, 199
AlphaQuiz SmartApplet, 7
font size, 27, 28
AlphaWord format for beams to Palm OS devices,
202
AlphaWord Plus SmartApplet, 7, 22
beaming files to another NEO, 60, 200
changing passwords for specific files, 173
character counts, 45
checking file size, 46
checking number of pages written, 47
checking spelling, 33
clearing files, 47, 48
copying text, 24
creating new files, 25
cutting and pasting text, 24
deleting files, 47, 49
deleting text, 24
disabling spell check, 34
enabling file passwords, 173
file passwords, 71
file size limits, 46
finding files, 26
finding sections, 31
finding text, 29
font sizes, 27, 28
linked files, 40
moving the cursor in, 23
naming files, 25
new files, 25
opening files, 26
opening linked files, 43
page counts, 45

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INDEX

paragraph counts, 45
passwords for files, 71
passwords for files, changing, 72
passwords for files, resetting, 72
reading text aloud, 73
recovering files, 50
replacing text, 30
resetting passwords for files, 173
retrieving files from supported Web-based
programs (NEO 2 only), 62
saving files, 25
searching for files, 26
searching for text, 29
sections, 31
selecting text, 23
sending files to another NEO, 60, 200
sending files to supported programs (NEO 2
only), 61
sending files to using NEO Manager, 63
settings in Control Panel, 173
settings in NEO Manager, 185
show marks setting, 173
size limits for files, 46
Spanish-English word lookup, 37, 39
spell check, 33
starting, 22
thesaurus, 36
typing timer, 50
user dictionary, 34, 35
using NEO Text2Speech device with, 73
viewing linked files, 43
word counts, 45
Amber light on NEO, 2
Amber light on Renaissance Receiver, 212
Antivirus software, 210
Antonyms, 37
Auto repeat setting, 179, 182
Automatic shutdown of NEO, 6
changing idle time before shutdown, 180, 182
Automatic startup, 221

260

B
Backspace key, disabled in KeyWords lessons, 166
Batteries, 221, 226
caring for, 227
charging rechargeable, 3
checking charge (status), 175, 226
installing rechargeable, 3
lithium, 227
rechargeable, 224
rechargeable upgrade kit, 221
replacing, 222
status indicator, 226
Battery compartment, 2
Beamer SmartApplet, 200
allowing beaming, 201
cant find a receiving device, 202
cancelling a beam, 200
changing settings, 201
clipboard, 200
clipboard, overwriting, 201
could not find a sending device, 203
disabling beaming, 201
finding infrared ports, 200
format for beams to Palm OS, 202
large files, 203
master password requirement for settings, 202
overwriting the clipboard, 200
permit send setting, 187, 201
require master password setting, 187
send to Palm device as AlphaWord (setting),
187
settings in the SmartApplet, 187, 201
troubleshooting, 202
truncated files, 203
warn if overwriting clipboard (setting), 187, 201
Beaming
blocking, 201
cancelling, 200
files from NEO to NEO, 60, 200
Black circle in NEO Manager connection status, 17
Blank screens, 208
Blocking beaming from NEOs, 201
Broken LCD screen, 210
NEO 2
User Manual

C
Calculator SmartApplet, 205
calculations, 205
disabling from the SmartApplets menu, 207
disabling within AlphaWord Plus, 207
exponents, 205
operators, 205
paper tape, 206
pasting calculations into other SmartApplets,
206
scientific notation, 205
starting, 205
turning off, 77, 174, 207
using, 205
Cant find a receiving device in Beamer, 202
Cant send data to computer, 209
Cancelling a beam, 200
Case reversed on sent characters, 210
Changing Beamer SmartApplet settings, 201
Changing file passwords, 72, 173
Changing NEO settings, 181
Changing SmartApplet settings in NEO Manager,
184
Changing the font size in AlphaWord Plus and
AlphaQuiz, 28
Changing the idle time before shutdown, 180
Changing the Startup SmartApplet, 75, 76
Changing transfer speed, 179, 180
Characters
counting in AlphaWord Plus files, 45
international or special, 232, 236
missing, 209
Charging rechargeable batteries, 3
Checking battery charge (status), 175, 226
Checking file size in AlphaWord Plus, 46
Checking spelling in AlphaWord Plus files, 33
Checking system status on NEO, 170
Clearing a send list password, 194
Clearing files in AlphaWord Plus, 47, 48
Clearing the history in the MathFacts in a Flash
(Offline) SmartApplet, 113
Clipboard on NEO, 24
and Beamer SmartApplet, 200
NEO 2
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I NDEX

overwriting in Beamer SmartApplet, 201


overwriting with beamed file, 60
viewing contents, 24
viewing space used and available, 24
warning if overwriting, 187
Closing files, 47
Closing send lists, 194
Commands, keyboard, 175, 232
Computer
connecting Renaissance Receiver, 18
connecting to NEO, 8
opening files from NEOs on using NEO
Manager, 51
printing files from NEOs on using NEO
Manager, 54
saving files from NEOs to using NEO Manager,
56
sending files to, 9
sending linked files to, 43
viewing files from NEOs on using NEO
Manager, 53
Conditioning rechargeable batteries, 224
Congratulations certificate for KeyWords, 158
Connected NEOs in NEO Manager software, 16
Connecting NEO to a computer, 8
Connection status, 16
opening on NEO Manager startup, 196
Contrast, screen, 175
Control Panel SmartApplet
changing settings with, 171
settings in, 172
Copying files to NEO 2, 62
Copying NEO 2 files to supported programs, 61
Copying text from linked files, 43
Copying text in AlphaWord Plus, 24
Could not find a sending device in Beamer, 203
Counting characters, words, paragraphs, or pages in
AlphaWord Plus files, 45
Creating new files in AlphaWord Plus, 25
Cursor
missing, 208
moving in AlphaWord Plus, 23
Cutting and pasting text in AlphaWord Plus, 24

261

.....

INDEX

D
Default goals in KeyWords, 138
Default settings, 188, 189
Delete user dictionary setting, 172
Deleting all AlphaWord Plus files, 185
Deleting files in AlphaWord Plus, 47, 49
Deleting KeyWords students from NEO Manager,
148
Deleting SmartApplets from NEOs, 80
Deleting students in KeyWords, 133
Deleting text in AlphaWord Plus, 24
Deleting user dictionary, 172, 186
Differences between the two MathFacts in a Flash
SmartApplets, 105
Disable This SmartApplet setting, 187
Disabled backspace key in KeyWords lessons, 166
Disabling SmartApplets, 77, 187
Disabling spell check, 34
Disabling the Calculator, 207
Displaying battery status, 175
Dragging and dropping text into NEO Manager, 214
DVORAK keyboard layout, 176

E
Editing text in AlphaWord Plus, 22
Empty files, using to overwrite files on NEOs, 64
Enabling password protection for AlphaWord Plus
files, 71, 173
Enabling SmartApplets, 77
Encryption key for NEO 2, 178
Ergonomics, keyboarding, 159
Error message on NEO, 211
Error while beaming a file, 203
Exponents in the Calculator, 205
Extra large font, 28, 182

F
Factory (default) settings, 189
FCC statement, 231
File keys on NEO, 22

262

File passwords
and saving KeyWords reports, 130, 134
changing, 72
enabling, 71
resetting, 72
setting for AlphaWord Plus, 185
Files
beaming to another NEO, 60, 200
blank, 208
changing passwords, 173
character counts, 45
checking page count, 47
checking size, 46
clearing in AlphaWord Plus, 47, 48
closing, 47
creating new, 25
deleting all using NEO Manager, 185
deleting in AlphaWord Plus, 47, 49
enabling password protection, 173
finding in AlphaWord Plus, 26
getting from supported Web-based programs,
62
length, 45
linked, 40
maximum/minimum sizes, 185
naming in AlphaWord Plus, 25
number of pages, 47
opening in AlphaWord Plus, 26
opening with NEO Manager, 51
page counts, 45, 47
paragraph counts, 45
passwords, 71
printing from NEO, 10
printing with NEO Manager, 54
reaching capacity in, 46
recovering in AlphaWord Plus, 50
resetting passwords, 173
retrieving from NEOs with NEO Manager, 51
retrieving from supported Web-based programs,
62
saving in AlphaWord Plus, 25
saving with NEO Manager, 56
searching for in AlphaWord Plus, 26

NEO 2
User Manual

sending to another NEO, 60, 200


sending to computer, 9
sending to NEOs using NEO Manager software,
63
sending to supported Web-based programs, 61
size, 185
size limits, 46
size, checking, 46
viewing from NEO Manager, 53
word counts, 45
Finding files in AlphaWord Plus, 26
Finding sections in AlphaWord Plus files, 31
Finding text in AlphaWord Plus, 29, 30
Finger placement handout for lesson 1 in KeyWords,
158
Finger placement handout for lessons 2-16 in
KeyWords, 158
Finger zones handout for KeyWords, 158
Fonts
extra large, 28
large, 28
medium, 28
resetting to default (System), 182
sizes in AlphaWord Plus, 27
sizes on NEO, 182
small, 28
system, 27
very large, 28
Formatting text, 27
Formulas with Calculator, 205
Frequently asked questions, KeyWords, 166
Full file, 46

G
Garbage characters, 210
Getting started, 1
Goals in KeyWords
resetting, 140
setting, 138, 139
Google Docs
retrieving files from (NEO 2 only), 62
sending files to (NEO 2 only), 61
NEO 2
User Manual

.....

I NDEX

troubleshooting, 211
Wireless File Transfer, 211
Green circle in NEO Manager connection status, 17
Green light on NEO, 2
Group Progress Report in KeyWords, 133
Guarantee, 228

H
Handouts for KeyWords teachers, 156
History in MathFacts in a Flash (Offline) SmartApplet
clearing, 113
printing, 110
sending to Renaissance Place, 111
viewing, 109
Home row confirmation requirement in KeyWords,
142
Home row keys handout for KeyWords, 158

I
Idle time, 6
changing, 180, 182
Importing KeyWords students from Renaissance
Place, 116
Information about AlphaHub, 199
Information about NEOs, 199
Infrared port, 2, 200
Installed SmartApplets, 7, 74
Installing batteries in NEO, 3
Installing SmartApplets on NEOs using NEO
Manager, 78, 214
Installing the NEO Manager software, 12
International characters, 236
Invalid password message in Beamer SmartApplet,
203
IR transfer speed setting, 183

263

.....

INDEX

K
Key strike handout for KeyWords, 158
Keyboard, 2
alternate layouts, 176, 177
auto repeat, 179
commands, 175, 232
settings, 176
slow keys setting, 176
sticky keys setting, 176
Keyboard commands on NEO, 175, 232
Keyboard layout setting, 176, 177, 182
Keyboarding cards, 159
Keyboarding ergonomics, 159
Keys
learning in KeyWords, 124
reinstalling, 215, 217, 218
repairing, 215
KeyWords SmartApplet, 114
about, 114
accuracy activities, 125
accuracy and speed builders, 124, 125
accuracy and speed test, 124, 127
accuracy goals, 138
adding students in NEO Manager, 119
adding students manually, 121
adding students that are in NEO Manager, 120
adding students using NEO Manager, 116
and KeyWords RP, 152
automatic goals, 138
congratulations certificate, 158
default goals, 138
delete all students setting, 133
deleting all students, 133
deleting KeyWords students from NEO
Manager, 148
deleting students, 133
ergonomics, 159
Finger placement handout/transparency for
lesson 1, 158
Finger placement handout/transparency for
lessons 2 through 16, 158
finger zone handout/transparency, 158
frequently asked questions, 166

264

getting data into KeyWords RP, 152


goals, 138, 139, 140
Group Progress Report, 133
handouts, 156
home row handout/transparency, 158
how it works, 115
importing students from Renaissance Place,
116
key strike handout/transparency, 158
Keyboarding Cards, 159
learn new keys, 124
lesson details, 162
lesson plan, 160
master class report, 151
NEO Manager and, 143
offline mode on NEO 2, 137
order of lessons, 136
overview, 115
post-test, 128
posture and wrist placement
handout/transparency, 158
pre-test, 122
pre-test/post-test level, 136
printing reports in KeyWords RP, 152
Progress Report master, 158
reports, 150
requiring Home row confirmation, 142
requiring lessons to be completed in order, 136
requiring use of the correct shift key, 141
resetting goals, 138, 140
resources for teachers, 156
retrieving data and generating reports in NEO
Manager, 146
sample lesson plan, 160
sending data from NEO 2 to NEO Manager, 135
sending data from NEO 2 to the teacher (to NEO
Manager), 131
setting custom error goals, 138, 139
setting custom words per minute (WPM) goals,
138, 139
setting goals, 139
setting offline mode for NEO 2, 137
settings in NEO Manager, 143

NEO 2
User Manual

spaces between sentences, 142


speed builder activities, 126
starting, 115
student reports, 128
sustained practice for all keys
handout/transparency, 158
synchronizing data with KeyWords RP, 152
teacher options, 132
tests, 127
transparencies, 156
KeyWords students in NEO Manager, 116, 119, 120
Kinesthetic patterns in KeyWords, 166

L
Large files in Beamer, 203
Large font, 28, 182
Last Lesson Report, 128
LCD screen, 210
Learn new keys lesson in KeyWords, 124
Left (one hand) keyboard layout, 176
Length of a file, 45
Lesson plan for KeyWords, 160
Lessons in KeyWords, 162
starting, 122
Lessons, Write On!
sending to NEOs, 68
Light on NEO, 2
Linguistic patterns in KeyWords, 166
Linked files, 40
about, 40
copying text from, 43
printing, 43
printing from NEOs, 43
sample, 44
sending to computer, 43
sending to NEOs using FORM tags, 41
sending to NEOs using Linked Files button, 65
viewing on NEO, 43
Lithium battery, 227
Locating infrared ports, 200
Low battery message, 226

NEO 2
User Manual

.....

I NDEX

M
Maintenance tips for NEO, 228
Master class report in KeyWords, 151
Master password, 168, 183
requiring for Beamer settings, 187, 202
setting, 183
Match case replace option, 30
Materials for teachers in KeyWords, 156
MathFacts in a Flash (Offline) SmartApplet, 105
clearing history, 113
differences from MathFacts in a Flash RP
SmartApplet, 105
opening, 106
practices in, 106
printing history, 110
sending the history to Renaissance Place, 111
tests in, 107
viewing history, 109
MathFacts in a Flash RP SmartApplet, 100
checking settings before student use, 101
differences from MathFacts in a Flash (Offline)
SmartApplet, 105
preparing to use, 100
setting the Renaissance Place address, 20
setup, 100
using, 101
Maximum file size setting for AlphaWord Plus, 185
default, 46
Medium font, 28, 182
Memo Pad format for Palm OS devices, 202
Memory column, 79
Minimum size for AlphaWord Plus files, default, 46
Missing characters, 209
Monitoring connected NEOs in the NEO Manager
software, 16
Moving the cursor in AlphaWord Plus, 23

N
Naming files in AlphaWord Plus, 25
Naming the Renaissance Receiver, 19

265

.....

INDEX

NEO 2
using with Accelerated Math RP, 88
using with AccelTest, 84
using with the 2Know! Toolbar, 91
NEO 2 settings
about NEO 2, 178
Search for Networks, 178
wireless security, 178
NEO keyboard, 2
NEO Manager software, 185
adding KeyWords students in, 116, 119
adding SmartApplets, 83
AlphaHub information, 199
AlphaWord Plus settings in, 185
Beamer SmartApplet settings in, 187
changing SmartApplet settings, 184
changing the Startup SmartApplet, 76
connected NEOs, 16
default settings in, 189
deleting all KeyWords students, 133
deleting KeyWords students from NEO
Manager, 148
deleting SmartApplets from NEOs, 80
disabling SmartApplets, 187
generating KeyWords reports, 146
getting started, 12
importing KeyWords students in, 116
installing, 12
installing SmartApplets on NEOs, 78
KeyWords and, 143
KeyWords reports in, 146
KeyWords settings in, 143
linked files, 65
managing NEOs with, 192
managing SmartApplets, 75
monitoring connecting NEOs, 16
NEO information, 199
opening connection status on startup, 196
opening files from NEOs, 51
preferences, 195
printing files retrieved from NEOs, 54
printing preferences, 195
resetting NEOs, 196

266

restoring default settings, 188


retrieving files from NEOs, 51
retrieving KeyWords data, 146
rubrics in, 65
saving files retrieved from NEOs, 56
send lists, 192, 193, 194
sending files to NEOs, 63
sending linked files to NEOs, 65
sending rubrics to NEOs, 65
sending student data from NEO 2 to, 131, 135
sending Write On! lessons to NEOs, 68
settings, default, 189
spell check settings in, 186
starting, 14
synchronizing KeyWords data with KeyWords
RP, 152
system settings, 181, 182
tabs, 15
troubleshooting, 213
updating NEO operating system, 197
updating SmartApplets on NEOs, 78, 197
uses of, 12
viewing files from NEOs, 53
viewing SmartApplet information, 82
NEO screen, 2
NEO Text2Speech device, 73
New files, creating in AlphaWord Plus, 25
No devices connected, 213
Number of pages in AlphaWord Plus file, 47
Numbering NEOs for classroom management, 58

O
Online and offline mode for KeyWords (NEO 2), 137
Opening files from NEOs with NEO Manager, 51
Opening files in AlphaWord Plus, 26
Opening saved send lists, 193
Operators in Calculator, 205
Overwriting the files on NEOs with empty files, 64

NEO 2
User Manual

P
Page counts in AlphaWord Plus files, 45, 47
Palm OS and beaming, 202
Paper tape in Calculator, 206
Paragraph counts in AlphaWord Plus files, 45
Passwords
changing for files, 72
changing for specific files, 173
enabling password protection for files, 173
forgotten, 214
requiring when sending changes to NEOs, 194
resetting for all files, 173
resetting for files, 72
send list, 194
Passwords enabled setting for AlphaWord Plus, 185
Passwords for files, 71
enabling, 71
Pasting calculations copied from the Calculator, 206
Pasting text in AlphaWord Plus, 24
Patterns, linguistic and kinesthetic in KeyWords, 166
Permit send setting for Beamer, 187
Post-test in KeyWords SmartApplet, 128
Posture and Wrist Placement for KeyWords, 158
Power sources for NEOs, 221
Preferences in NEO Manager, 195
Preparing to use the Accelerated Reader
SmartApplet, 93
Preparing to use the MathFacts in a Flash
SmartApplet, 100
Pre-test in KeyWords SmartApplet, 122
Pre-test/post-test level for KeyWords students, 136
Printer selection setting, 183
Printing files from NEO, 10
using a USB cable connection, 10
using IR beaming, 10
using wireless printing from NEO 2, 11
Printing files retrieved from NEOs with NEO
Manager, 54
Printing linked files from NEOs, 43
Printing preferences for NEO Manager, 195
Printing the history from the MathFacts in a Flash
(Offline) SmartApplet, 110
Printing Write On! lessons from NEO, 242
NEO 2
User Manual

.....

I NDEX

Procedures for return, 230


Product safety information, 231
Progress Report in KeyWords, 133
Progress report master for KeyWords, 158

Q
QuizDesigner, 7
QuizManager, 7
Quizzing restrictions in the Accelerated Reader
SmartApplet, 97
QWERTY keyboard layout, 176

R
Rechargeable batteries, 223
conditioning, 224
lifetime, 225
specifications, 224
upgrade kit, 221
Recharging NEOs, 225
Recovering files in AlphaWord Plus, 50
Red circle in NEO Manager connection status, 17
Reinstalling keys, 215, 217, 218
Removing the send list password, 194
Renaissance Place
sending MathFacts in a Flash (Offline) history to,
111
synching KeyWords data with, 152
Renaissance Place address
problems verifying, 211
setting for Accelerated Reader and MathFacts
in a Flash, 20
Renaissance Place manuals, finding, 153
Renaissance Place Settings in the Renaissance
Wireless Server Utility, 20
Renaissance Receiver
amber light, 212
connecting to, 178
connecting to computer, 18
naming, 19
setup, 17
troubleshooting, 212

267

.....

INDEX

Renaissance Wireless Server Utility, 12, 19


Administrator PIN for, 19
naming the Receiver in, 19, 212
setting Renaissance Place address in, 20
Repairing keys, 215
Replace All option, 30
Replacing AA batteries, 222
Replacing SmartApplets on NEOs, 196
Replacing text in AlphaWord Plus, 30
Replacing the thesaurus with the Spanish-English
word lookup, 37
Reports for KeyWords in NEO Manager software,
146
Reports in KeyWords SmartApplet, 150
for students, 128
Group Progress Report, 133
printing in KeyWords RP, 152
Progress Report master for KeyWords, 158
Require master password setting for Beamer, 187
Requirements for computers used with NEOs, 1
Reset system font setting, 182
Resetting all file passwords, 72, 173
Resetting goals in KeyWords, 140
Resetting NEOs using NEO Manager, 196
Resetting the system font to default, 182
Resources for KeyWords teachers, 156
Responder SmartApplet, 84
setup, 84
using with 2Know! Toolbar, 91
using with Accelerated Math RP, 88
using with AccelTest software, 84
Restoring default settings in NEO Manager, 188
Retrieving files from NEOs with NEO Manager, 51
Retrieving files from supported Web-based
programs (NEO 2 only), 62
Return procedures, 230
Right (one hand) keyboard layout, 176
RMA number, 230
Rubrics, 40
in NEO Manager, 65
sending to NEOs using NEO Manager, 65
tips, 66

268

S
Safety information, 228, 231
Sample lesson plan for KeyWords, 160
Saving files in AlphaWord Plus, 25
Saving files retrieved from NEOs with NEO Manager,
56
Saving send lists, 193
Scientific notation in the Calculator, 205
Scissors assembly, 217
Screen, 2
blank, 208
broken LCD, 210
contrast, 175
Search for Networks setting (NEO 2), 178
Searching for files in AlphaWord Plus, 26
Searching for text in AlphaWord Plus, 29
Sections in AlphaWord Plus files, 31
Selecting text in AlphaWord Plus, 23
Self discharge effect, 225
Send lists in NEO Manager, 192
closing, 194
defined, 192
opening saved lists, 193
password, 194
password, removing, 194
requiring a password for, 194
saving for future use, 193
Send to Palm device as AlphaWord (setting), 187
Sending files
from NEO 2 to supported Web-based programs,
61
from NEO to a computer, 9
from one NEO to another, 60, 200
to NEOs from NEO Manager, 63
Sending KeyWords student data from NEO 2 to NEO
Manager, 135
Sending linked files to NEOs using NEO Manager,
41, 65
Sending rubrics to NEOs using NEO Manager, 65
Sending the history from the MathFacts in a Flash
(Offline) SmartApplet to Renaissance Place, 111
Sending Write On! lessong to NEOs using NEO
Manager, 68
NEO 2
User Manual

Setting custom error goals in KeyWords, 138, 139


Setting custom words per minute (WPM) goals in
KeyWords, 138, 139
Setting goals in KeyWords, 138, 139
Setting spaces required between sentences in
KeyWords, 142
Settings
about NEO 2, 178
add new word to user dictionary, 172
auto repeat, 179, 182
change a specific file password, 173
change default AlphaWord font, 174
changing from NEO Control Panel, 171
changing in NEO Manager, 181
default, 189
delete all students in KeyWords, 133
delete user dictionary, 172
display battery status, 175
for AlphaWord Plus, 173, 185
for Beamer SmartApplet, 187, 201
for KeyWords, 143
for NEO, changing in NEO Manager, 181
for SmartApplets, 80
for spell check, 172, 186
idle time, 182
IR transfer speed, 183
keyboard, 176
keyboard command reference list, 175
keyboard layout, 176, 177, 182
master password, 183
permit send for Beamer, 187
printer selection, 183
require master password for Beamer settings on
NEO, 187
reset all file passwords, 173
reset system font to default, 182
restoring default in NEO Manager, 188
search for Networks (NEO 2), 178
send to Palm device as AlphaWord in Beamer,
187
set screen contrast, 175
set spaces between sentences in KeyWords,
142

NEO 2
User Manual

.....

I NDEX

show marks, 174, 186


slow key delay, 182
slow keys, 176
slow keys on/off, 182
speech enabled, 183
Spell Check, 191
startup SmartApplet, 182
sticky keys, 176, 182
system, 182
transfer speed, 183
turn add words to user dictionary ON/OFF, 172
turn Calculator off, 174
turn file passwords ON/OFF, 173
turn show marks in files ON/OFF, 173
two-button on mode, 174, 183
view keyboard layout, 175
warn if overwriting clipboard in Beamer, 187
wireless security (NEO 2), 178
Setup for Accelerated Reader SmartAppelt, 93
Shift key requirements in KeyWords, 141
Show marks setting for AlphaWord Plus, 173, 174,
185, 186
Shutting down NEO automatically (idle time), 182
Size limits for AlphaWord Plus files, 46
Size of files, 185
Slow keys delay setting, 182
Slow keys on/off setting, 182
Slow keys setting, 176, 209
Small font, 28, 182
SmartApplets, 74
Accelerated Reader, 93
adding to NEO Manager software, 83
AlphaQuiz, 7
AlphaWord Plus, 7, 22
Beamer, 200
Calculator, 205
changing settings in NEO Manager, 184
defined, 74
deleting from NEOs, 80
Disable This SmartApplet setting, 187
disabling, 77
disabling in NEO Manager, 187
enabling, 77

269

.....

INDEX

installed on NEO, 7, 74
installing on NEOs, 78, 214
KeyWords, 114
managing with NEO Manager, 75
MathFacts in a Flash (Offline), 105
MathFacts in a Flash RP, 100
replacing on NEOs, 196
Responder, 84
settings, 80, 184, 185
startup SmartApplet, 75, 76
updating on NEOs, 78, 196, 197
viewing information, 82
Space available on clipboard, 24
Space available on NEO, 46
Space used on clipboard, 24
Spacebar key, reinstalling, 218
Spaces between sentences in KeyWords, 142
Spanish-English word lookup
replacing thesaurus with, 37
using, 39
Special characters, 232, 236
Speech enabled setting, 183
Speed builder activities in KeyWords, 126
Speed of text transfer, 179, 180
Spell check
adding words to dictionary, 34
disabling, 34
settings, 172, 191
settings in NEO Manager, 186
user dictionary for, 34
using, 33
Spelling, checking in AlphaWord Plus, 33
Spills, 211
Standard keyboard layout, 176
Starting KeyWords SmartApplet, 115
Starting the AlphaWord Plus SmartApplet, 22
Starting the Calculator SmartApplet, 205
Starting the NEO, 6
Starting the NEO Manager software, 14
Startup send list for new school years or terms, 192
Startup SmartApplet setting, 75, 76, 182
Status of battery charge, 226
Status of NEO, 170

270

Sticky keys setting, 176, 182


Storing NEOs, 225, 229
Student Detail Report for KeyWords in NEO
Manager, 147
Student Information Report for KeyWords in NEO
Manager, 147
Student Progress Report, 128
in NEO Manager (for KeyWords), 147
Student-paced session in AccelTest, 85
Students in KeyWords
adding, 120
adding in NEO Manager, 119
adding manually, 121
adding using NEO Manager, 116
deleting, 133
deleting in NEO Manager, 148
importing from Renaissance Place using NEO
Manager, 116
sending data to NEO Manager (to the teacher)
from NEO 2, 131
sending data to NEO Manager from NEO 2, 135
setting goals, 138, 139
starting lessons, 122
Supplement files for Write On! lessons, 250
Sustained practice for all keys handout for
KeyWords, 158
System font, 27, 182
System requirements, 1
System settings for NEO in NEO Manager, 182
System status for NEO, checking, 170

T
Tab key, 27
Tabs in NEO Manager software, 15
Taking a quiz in the Accelerated Reader
SmartApplet, 94
Teacher options in KeyWords, 132
deleting students, 133
home row confirmation, 142
printing the Group Progress Report, 133
require correct shift key, 141

NEO 2
User Manual

setting goals, 138


spaces between sentences (one or two), 142
Teacher-paced session in AccelTest, 87
Teaching supplements for Write On! lessons, 250
Text
copying in AlphaWord Plus, 24
cutting and pasting in AlphaWord Plus, 24
deleting in AlphaWord Plus, 24
finding in AlphaWord Plus, 29
formatting, 27
replacing in AlphaWord Plus, 30
searching for in AlphaWord Plus, 29
selecting in AlphaWord Plus, 23
Text2Speech device, 73, 183
updating, 178
Thesaurus, 36
antonyms, 37
using, 36
Timing your typing speed in AlphaWord Plus, 50
Tips, 1
Tips for NEO maintenance, 228
Toxic elements statement, 226
Transfer speed, 179
for cable connections, 183
for IR beaming, 183
for IrDA beaming, 180
for USB cable connections, 179
setting, 183
Troubleshooting, 208
for beaming, 202
for NEO Manager, 213
for NEOs, 208
special characters, 239
Truncated files in Beamer, 203
Turn add words to user dictionary ON/OFF, 172
Turn files passwords ON/OFF, 173
Turn Home row confirmation on (setting), 142
Turn require correct shift key off (setting), 142
Turn sequential lessons ON/OFF (setting), 136
Turn show marks in files ON/OFF, 173
Turn spell check off/on setting, 172
Turning off the Calculator, 77, 207
Turning on NEO using two buttons, 183

NEO 2
User Manual

.....

I NDEX

Turning the NEO on, 6


Two-button on setting, 174, 183
Typing special or international characters, 236
Typing text in AlphaWord Plus, 22
Typing timer in AlphaWord Plus, 50

U
Updating NEOs, 197
Updating SmartApplets on NEOs using NEO
Manager, 78, 196
Upgrade kit, rechargeable battery, 3, 221
USB port, 2
User dictionary for spell check, 34
adding words to, 172, 186
creating new in a computer text file, 35
deleting, 172, 186
sending new to NEO, 35

V
Verifying the Renaissance Place address, 19, 211
Very large font, 28, 182
Viewing file length, 45
Viewing files from NEOs in NEO Manager, 53
Viewing the history in the MathFacts in a Flash
(Offline) SmartApplet, 109
Viewing the keyboard layout, 175

W
Warn if overwriting clipboard (setting for Beamer),
187
Warranty, 228
Whole Word Replace option, 30
Wireless File Transfer, 211
Wireless printing, 11
Wireless security setting (NEO 2), 178
Wireless setup, 17, 84, 93, 100, 211
Word counts in AlphaWord Plus files, 45
Words per minute goals in KeyWords, 138, 139, 140

271

.....

INDEX

WPM
in AlphaWord Plus, 50
in KeyWords, 126, 138, 139
Write On! lessons, 240
about, 240
elementary school exercises, 251
elementary school files, 243
files and locations, 242
high school exercises, 256
high school files, 248
how to use, 240
lesson categories, 250
making your own, 69
middle school exercises, 253
middle school files, 245
printing from NEO, 242
retrieving from NEOs, 241
sending to NEOs, 68
teaching supplement PDF files, 250
Writing on NEO, 6, 22

Y
Yellow circle in NEO Manager connection status, 17
Yellow light on NEO, 2

272

NEO 2
User Manual

About Renaissance Learning


Renaissance Learning, Inc. is a leading provider of technology-based school improvement
and student assessment programs for K12 schools. Renaissance Learnings tools provide
daily formative assessment and periodic progress-monitoring technology to enhance core
curriculum, support differentiated instruction, and personalize practice in reading, writing,
and math. Renaissance Learning products help educators make the practice component
of their existing curriculum more effective by providing tools to personalize practice and
easily manage the daily activities for students of all levels. As a result, teachers using
Renaissance Learning products accelerate learning, get more satisfaction from teaching,
and help students achieve higher test scores on state and national tests.

P.O. Box 8036 Wisconsin Rapids, WI 54495-8036 (800) 338-4204 www.renlearn.com


2013 Renaissance Learning, Inc.

NEOMAN.0513
R55253

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